The Cross River and Akwa Ibom states’ Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) disclosed today that it intercepted 26,625 litres of petrol at different locations in Cross River.
The Comptroller in-charge of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Lagos, Mr Kehinde Ejibunu, who made this disclosure in Calabar, said that the product was smuggled in 1,065 kegs, adding that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the smuggled PMS is N40,054,125.
According to him, the seizure was made at the zone C axis of the NCS by a special taskforce, ‘Operation Whirl Wind’.
He expatiated: “This particular seizure is coming on the heels of a huge seizure of petroleum products respectively in zones A and B, covering both Lagos and Kebbi states, recently.
“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 zone C axis.
“Today, we have another seizure of 1,065 kegs of PMS, containing 26,625 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”, Ejibunu added.
He further clarified that the Command’s operatives, in collaboration with NMDPRA, monitored the supply and distribution chain right from the depot of uploading to the final retail outlets to ensure the product was delivered at the targeted destinations
Speaking on the feat by the Command, the Comptroller in Charge of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States Command, Mr. Ogbonna Gabriel, warned that the Service would no longer condone the illegal exportation of the nation’s petrol to neighbouring countries.
Gabriel expressed optimism that that through the support of the host communities, the Command would be able to singificantly curb the activities of smugglers in the area.
He pleaded: “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.
“The illegal exportation of Nigeria’s PMS to our neighbouring countries will not be tolerated by Nigeria Customs Service”, the Comptroller stressed.
