Customs hands over five diverted diesel tankers to NMDPRA
Lagos, Oct. 23, 2026, The Nigeria Customs Service, through Operation Whirlwind, has handed over five tanker trucks conveying suspected diverted Automotive Gas Oil to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)for further investigation.
The Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu,
said that the five trucks with registration numbers BBR 634 XA, BRK 828 MF, YLA 243 XU, KTN 278 XZ and MUS 134 BX were intercepted following credible intelligence.
He said the trucks were intercepted by operatives of Operation Whirlwind on July 6 at about 11 p.m. and subsequently deposited at Tasha Joli opposite 33 Military Barracks in Maiduguri.
Aliyu said that preliminary checks were conducted on the petroleum products suspected to have been diverted and transloaded, raising concerns about possible irregularities and regulatory infractions.
He said the findings prompted the handover to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further investigation and appropriate administrative action.
While handing over the trucks on Oct 23 Friday, to the appropriate authority, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind Aliyu said that the exercise was conducted on the directive of the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi.
He said the interception demonstrated the service’s determination to tackle illegal movement, diversion and smuggling of petroleum products through intelligence-led enforcement and inter-agency collaboration.
He said that the operation reflects the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement in protecting Nigeria’s petroleum resources from activities threatening supply chain integrity.
He warned individuals and syndicates involved in illegal diversion and smuggling the authorities were intensifying efforts to track down and disrupt their activities nationwide.
Aliyu declared the tide was turning against petroleum smuggling, illegal diversion and associated economic crimes, saying that operation whirlwind would sustained enforcement activities across operational areas.
“Operation Whirlwind remains steadfast in its commitment to proactive, intelligence-led operations and decisive enforcement,” he said, adding it would continue to dismantle smuggling networks,”Aliyu said.
He assured the public that enforcement activities would be conducted professionally, in strict compliance with the law and in accordance with established procedures and regulations.
He commended the Comptroller-General and NCS management, as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser, NMDPRA and personnel of Operation Whirlwind for their diligence and professionalism.
He said the handover marks another enforcement action as Customs steps up efforts to curb illegal diversion, noting the outcome of investigation would determine next administrative steps.
