The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 38,700 litres of petrol in Adamawa State, warning that price differences between Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon continue to encourage the illegal movement of petroleum products across the border.
The seized consignment, comprising 1,548 jerrycans containing 25 litres each, was recovered alongside a vehicle allegedly used to transport the fuel, the service said during a briefing in Yola.
According to SaharaReporters, which reported the development, Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale said the operation was conducted under Operation Whirlwind, an initiative targeting the diversion and smuggling of petroleum products. He was represented at the event by the operation’s National Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu Lucky.
Adewale said intelligence-led operations led officers to several locations along suspected smuggling corridors, including Malabu-Belel, Girei-Wurobokki, Gurin-Fufore, Wuro Alhaji-Maiha and Mubi-Sahuda. The routes connect parts of Adamawa State with neighbouring Cameroon.
The Customs chief identified Nigeria’s comparatively lower petrol prices as a major incentive for the illicit trade, noting that the price advantage continues to attract operators seeking to move fuel across the international boundary for profit.
SaharaReporters cited price checks indicating that petrol sold for 840 Central African CFA francs per litre in Cameroon on October 19, 2026, equivalent to about $1.44 or ₦1,918.
The service said Operation Whirlwind would continue to target networks involved in the illegal export of petroleum products, warning that the practice undermines efforts to prevent the diversion of fuel meant for the domestic market.
