The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over five tanker trucks conveying suspected diverted Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The handover took place on Friday, 23 October 2026, at the Borno/Yobe Area Command Headquarters in Maiduguri, following the interception of the trucks on 6 July 2026 by Operation Whirlwind, a special operation of the NCS, based on credible intelligence.
Speaking at the ceremony, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abubakar Aliyu, reaffirmed the operation’s commitment to combating the illegal diversion and smuggling of petroleum products.
Aliyu warned individuals and groups involved in the illicit trade, stating that “the tide is turning against petroleum smuggling, illegal diversion, and all associated economic crimes.”
He said the operation would strengthen surveillance, improve intelligence gathering and intensify enforcement to prevent the illegal movement of petroleum products. The five intercepted tanker trucks bear registration numbers BBR 634 XA, BRK 828 MF, YLA 243 XU, KTN 278 XZ and MUS 134 BX.
The handover to the NMDPRA is expected to facilitate further investigation into the suspected diversion of the petroleum products and establish the circumstances surrounding their movement.
Operation Whirlwind also reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the NCS, the NMDPRA and other security agencies in safeguarding Nigeria’s petroleum resources and curbing economic crimes.
Aliyu affirmed that Operation Whirlwind would sustain its enforcement efforts to tackle petroleum smuggling and illegal diversion, while strengthening intelligence-led operations to prevent the unauthorised movement of petroleum products across the country.
