 has handed over five tanker trucks loaded with suspected illegally diverted diesel to the Nigerian Midstream){kind=link}
…..Operation Whirlwind warns smugglers as NCS intensifies crackdown on illegal petroleum diversion
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over five tanker trucks loaded with suspected illegally diverted diesel to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation and possible regulatory action.
The handover took place in Maiduguri on Friday, October 23, 2026, following the interception of the trucks by the Customs Service’s special enforcement team, Operation Whirlwind, in a move aimed at curbing the illegal diversion and movement of petroleum products.
The five tankers were intercepted on July 6, 2026, at about 11 p.m. following intelligence received by the enforcement team.
The vehicles, bearing registration numbers BBR 634 XA, BRK 828 MF, YLA 243 XU, KTN 278 XZ and MUS 134 BX, were reportedly conveying consignments of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, suspected to have been illegally diverted and transloaded.
Before their transfer to the petroleum regulatory authority, the trucks were kept at Tasha Joli, opposite the 33 Military Barracks in Maiduguri.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind said the operation was carried out on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as part of efforts to prevent the smuggling and unauthorised movement of petroleum products.
The coordinator explained that preliminary checks raised concerns over possible regulatory violations, prompting the decision to transfer the trucks and their contents to the NMDPRA for further investigation and appropriate administrative action.
He stressed that the collaboration between the Customs Service, NMDPRA and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) remained crucial to protecting Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain.
According to him, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement are essential to identifying and disrupting activities capable of undermining the nation’s economy and the lawful distribution of petroleum products.
The coordinator also warned individuals and organised syndicates involved in the illegal diversion of petroleum products that enforcement agencies were intensifying surveillance and intelligence-led operations to track down those responsible.
He reaffirmed Operation Whirlwind’s commitment to enforcing relevant laws and regulations through enhanced monitoring, intelligence gathering and decisive action against suspected petroleum-related offences.
The Nigeria Customs Service commended the Comptroller-General for his continued support and acknowledged the contributions of ONSA, the NMDPRA and Operation Whirlwind personnel to the enforcement effort.
The handover, the coordinator added, underscored the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that petroleum products are transported, handled and distributed in accordance with established regulations.
The NMDPRA is expected to conduct further investigations into the consignments and determine the appropriate regulatory action based on its findings.
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