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The Nigeria Customs Service in Adamawa has intercepted smuggled Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS valued at ₦86.5 million.
Also intercepted by the service in its operations along the Nigeria-Cameroon border in Adamawa and Taraba states within the past two months are five vehicles and two motorcycles.
Mr H.K. Ejibunu, the national coordinator of customs’ “Operation Whirlwind,” disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Yola.
Read Also: 2 Arrested As NSCDC Discovers Illegal Refinery In Abia State
Ejibunu said that the service within the period under review also intercepted 14 fuel tankers loaded with PMS meant to be diverted and smuggled.
“Out of the 14 fuel tankers intercepted, 13 were handed over to NMDPRA in Yola (Adamawa), while one to NMDPRA in Taraba State for continued inter-agency action.
“It will interest you to know that the team equally arrested a suspect in connection to smuggling activities and he is currently facing prosecution,” he said.
According to him, their operations help the state to witness a stable and sufficient supply of PMS, reducing scarcity and price instability.
He said the recovered petrol would be auctioned because of its inflammable nature in line with the NCS Act, 2023.
Ejibunu lauded the synergy among security agencies in the state and urged for sustenance.
In other news, the Abia State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said it has discovered an illegal refinery being operated inside a bush in Isiala Ihie community of Ugwunagbo LGA of Abia State.
The command also arrested two suspects in the area and discovered large quantities of petroleum products suspected to have been tapped from a nearby vandalised petroleum pipeline.
The arrest was made by the Crack Squad when it uncovered an illegal refinery cleverly hidden in the forest of Isiala Ihie community, according to a press statement by Doreen Udugwu, the Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Command of NSCDC.
According to the statement, during the sting operation, large quantities of petroleum products at various stages of processing were seized by the crack squad.
