A suspected top smuggling magnate in Adamawa State has disclosed that smugglers operating within the Adamawa-Taraba Command, Yola, have a Memorandum of Understanding with operatives of the Marine Customs stationed at the border coastal area of the Command and the neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon, Mali and others.

As a result, the smuggling kingpin urged the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller General, Adeniyi Bashir, to dissolve and disband the Operation Whirlwind with immediate effect.

The smuggler who spoke with Arewa PUNCH on condition of anonymity accused the newly created anti-smuggling outfit – Operation Whirlwind of interfering in their business, which he classified as “exportation of petroleum products.”

The renowned smuggler argued that since the Federal Government has removed subsidy on petroleum products, it has lost the constitutional rights to control the price rates at which the products are sold and where they are sold.

The top smuggling suspect was apparently taking on the CG, who has always warned smugglers to desist from the illegal business or face the full wrath of the law.

The newly created Operation Whirlwind which is domiciled under the Office of the National Security Adviser, last week, made a huge breakthrough in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, a situation which is now threatening the activities of the top hierarchy of the smuggling gang as the entire Adamawa and Taraba Customs Area Command has been placed on the Red alert to sustain the onslaught against smugglers and smuggling activities within the Command.

Only last Wednesday, Operation Whirlwind operatives seized a large boat which was about to take off to the Cameroon Republic laden with hundreds of gallons of jerry cans containing premium motor spirit at the River Benue bank which incidentally is only 10 metres away from the Marine Customs Office in the state capital.

The huge seizure Arewa PUNCH further learnt is now shaking some top officers supervising the area under the Command.

There was for instance a mild drama between our correspondent and one of the top officers in the Command, Assistant Controller Abba Abubakar, the officer in charge of operation, during a press conference held by the Controller Garba Bashir.

Trouble started when Arewa PUNCH asked the Controller why smuggling activities persisted at the River Benue bank inside the state capital.

To this query, the controller had responded, “The area is under the Marine Customs.”

Immediately after the press conference, Abba accosted our correspondent and launched a verbal attack on him for asking such a question.

A thoroughly annoyed Abba said, “Don’t you know that the place is under me or do you not know the number of years I’ve spent in Customs and nobody ever smuggled anything through that place you are talking about?

“What is happening is that some of these people have their relations in Cameroon, so they sometimes send things to them through the waterways using boats,” he attempted to defend.

However, Arewa PUNCH investigations has revealed that only three days after Abba’s attempt to deny the smuggling activities in the area, Operation Whirlwind put a lie to his defence when it again made a huge seizure at the same spot.

The smugglers, after they were apprehended, told Arewa PUNCH that they have a good working relationship with the customs there.

One of the arrested smugglers boldly told our correspondent, “We were loading midnight but because of the ‘memorandum of understanding’ with some of the top officers we now load in the daytime,” he said.

Therefore, he accused the Operation Whirlwind operatives of being “economic saboteurs and they should be disbanded to allow our businesses to flourish in the interest of human development.”

He stated, “We have been operating here for the past 30 years without anybody harassing us, now one Operation Whirlwind is not allowing us to look for our daily bread. Let them go and arrest National Assembly members. They are the people making the country poor.”

Arewa PUNCH recalls that only last month in Yola, Bashir had told journalists that Operation Whirlwind was set up to address the critical issue of fuel smuggling in the country.

“Despite the inflationary pressures and financial strain on households, particularly those with lower incomes, comparative studies still show that fuel prices in Nigeria remain the cheapest compared to other countries in the West and Central African region. While Premium Motor Spirit is sold at an average of N701.99 in Nigeria, it is

Sold at an average cost of N1,672.05 in the Republic of Benin and N2,061.55 in Cameroon. In other countries around the region, the price of PMS ranges from N1,427.68 in Liberia to N2,128.20 in Mali, averaging N1,787.57, according to the fuel price data obtained from open source,” the CG had explained.

He maintained that the outfit was in response to the alarming increase in fuel smuggling, a situation that spurred the NCS in close collaboration with the NSA to initiate Operation Whirlwind.

Continuing, the CG further pointed out that, “This nationwide operation aims to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Defend the national currency and reduce pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers.

“Identify, dismantle, and disrupt cartels of smugglers operating within the ecosystem.”

He added, “guided by credible intelligence and empowered by the new Customs Act 2023, the operation targets illegal exportation, particularly of petroleum products, ensuring their availability within the country and conserving government resources.

“The NCS is pleased to announce the significant strides made in the ongoing Operation Whirlwind, aimed at curbing the smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit out of the country.

“In the past two weeks, we have received credible intelligence on the relative stability of the price of PMS around border states. This is easily attributed to disruptions in the operations of smugglers.

“Within seven days of intensive operations, a total of 150,950 litres of PMS, valued at N 105,965,391, have been intercepted at various locations nationwide.”

Bashir maintained that the measures were essential and will be rigorously implemented to ensure strict adherence to government expectations.

He stressed that In enforcing these measures, NCS is mindful of the potential challenges they may pose to border communities.

Bashir, nonetheless, assured that the operations will not obstruct or interfere with the legitimate activities of patriotic citizens in the affected areas. (The PUNCH, excluding headline)

Update news