The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through Operation Whirlwind, has handed over three tanker trucks conveying suspected diverted petroleum products to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Kano for further investigation.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs A.L. Aliyu, said the trucks were intercepted on July 25, 2026, along Daura Road in Kano following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance by operatives of Operation Whirlwind across the Kano, Jigawa and Katsina axis.
Aliyu disclosed that the tankers, bearing registration numbers FGE 570 XB, KMG 361 XA and KMC 69 ZR, were conveying suspected diverted Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Preliminary investigations indicated that the products were originally destined for Birnin Kebbi and Argungu in Kebbi State, as stated in the NMDPRA manifest, but suspicious circumstances surrounding their movement prompted their interception.
He explained that Operation Whirlwind, acting on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has expanded its operational mandate beyond Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to include Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other regulated petroleum products to curb diversion, smuggling and cross-border trafficking.
According to Aliyu, the illegal diversion of petroleum products constitutes economic sabotage that threatens national energy security, drains government revenue, disrupts the petroleum supply chain and creates artificial scarcity. He said the handover would enable the NMDPRA to conduct comprehensive regulatory investigations, verify the products and accompanying documentation, and impose appropriate sanctions where violations are established.
The National Coordinator reaffirmed that Operation Whirlwind would continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and inter-agency collaboration to detect, deter and dismantle criminal networks involved in petroleum-related economic crimes, warning that all offenders would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Also, the Acting Area Comptroller of Customs in-Charge of Kano/Jigawa Area Command, DC, Usman Adamu assured Operation Whirlwind of every necessary support needed for successful operations within the zone.
Adamu, also assured the NMDPRA that the Command will sustain the existing synergy between the two in view of the task of protecting the nation’s economy.
In his response, the Head of Operations, NMDPRA, Kano Office, Mal. Murtala Abubakar applauded the Operation Whirlwind and the Customs Service whom he said have done much in curtailing the diversion of petroleum products recently.
According to him, the Customs Service has helped breached the man power gap suffered by the NMDPRA by deploying it’s officers who he described as being “everywhere” and working round the clock.
Abubakar assured of discreet investigations and appropriate measures to be taken against the suspects.