Customs seizes ‘26,625 litres of smuggled petrol’ in Cross River

The Cross River and Akwa Ibom states Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its operatives have seized 26,625 litres of smuggled petrol at various locations.

NAN reports that Kehinde Ejibunu, comptroller of the federal operations unit, zone ‘A’ Lagos, announced the seizure in Calabar, the capital of Cross River, on Tuesday.

Ejibunu said the petrol was smuggled in 1,065 gallons, with the duty-paid value (DPV) totalling N40,054,125.

“This particular seizure is coming on the heels of a huge seizure of petroleum products in zones A and B, covering both Lagos and Kebbi states, recently,” he said.

“Gathering here in Calabar this morning, the headquarters of Cross River /Akwa Ibom /FTZ area command is for me to showcase to the general public another milestone recorded by the operatives of Operation Whirl Wind in the Zone C axis.

“Today, we have another seizure of 1,065 kegs of PMS, containing 26,625 litres of PMS, together with one mode of conveyance.

“These interceptions were made on different dates and locations across Agbalagba-Ikom, Akansoko road, Ikom-Ogoja road, and other places within the zone.

“It is worthy to note that in collaboration with NMDPRA, our operatives monitored the supply and distribution chain right from the depot of loading up to the final destination (retail outlets) to ensure PMS reaches its manifested destinations.”

Also speaking, Ogbonna Gabriel, the comptroller in charge of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states command, said the service “would no longer condone the illegal exportation of Nigeria’s PMS to neighbouring countries”.

He expressed confidence that the command will be able to curb the activities of smugglers in the area through partnerships with host communities.

The comptroller noted that the NCS “will uphold its corporate social responsibility, particularly towards host communities that provide valuable information to the command”.

“We urge members of the PMS smuggling cartels to have a rethink and better go into legitimate businesses because we will continue to go after them as economic saboteurs, as there is no place for their illegal activities,” he said.

“The illegal exportation of Nigeria’s PMS to our neighbouring countries will not be tolerated by the Nigeria Customs Service.”