The Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted 38,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, more popularly known as petrol.
The interception of the contraband, packed in 1,548 25-litre jerry cans and allegedly intended to be smuggled out of the country, was made within the last six weeks.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, a deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Abubakar Lucky Aliyu, who made the disclosure on Wednesday in Yola, said apart from the petrol, a vehicle allegedly used to transport it was also seized.
The petrol and vehicle, all seized in a six-week crackdown on suspected petroleum smuggling activities in Adamawa State, have a combined Duty Paid Value of N63.115 million, the Operation Whirlwind Coordinator said.
During a press conference at the Customs House in Yola, Abubakar Aliyu told journalists that the seizures followed intelligence-driven operations targeting identified smuggling flashpoints across the state.
The notorious petrol smuggling corridors in Adamawa, according to him, are Malabu-Belel, Girei-Wuro Bokki, Gurin-Fufore, Wuro Alhaji-Maiha and Mubi-Sahuda.
In a message to the press briefing, the Adamawa State Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Dr Bashir Sirajo, said the price differential between Nigeria and neighboring countries created a powerful incentive for fuel smuggling.
"Unscrupulous individuals divert petroleum products meant for Nigerians across the borders, distorting the domestic supply chain and creating artificial scarcity in border communities," Sirajo lamented.
He however expressed the optimism that concerted efforts by stakeholders like his NMDPRA and the Nigerian Customs Service would eventually curtail smuggling activities.