The Nigeria Customs Service, under Operation Whirlwind, has seized petroleum products valued at N181.6m in eight weeks between the Nigeria and Cameroon borders.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, ACG Kolapo Oladeji, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Yola.
He said the seizures were made across various smuggling flashpoints in Adamawa during 55 operations.
“This operation is geared towards energy and food security to foster economic growth in line with the core mandates of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.
“In line with these mandates, Operation Whirlwind Zone D has repositioned all its machinery across its areas of responsibility, ensuring that the border becomes airtight,” he said.
He warned smugglers to desist from the acts and sought continued support and cooperation from stakeholders for the socioeconomic development of the state.
“We will ensure that the supply chains of these economic wreckers are truncated in accordance with enabling laws.
“This fight has helped in transforming the nation’s economy and strengthening the security of our borders,” he added.
He also said the seized petroleum products would be auctioned to the public.
Mrs Abidemi Adewumi-Aluko, Assistant Legal Adviser at the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, described the planned auction as a measure to reclaim resources and ensure petroleum benefits remain in Nigeria.
She said such offences attracted life imprisonment because they threatened national security.
She urged smugglers to desist from the acts.
