The Nigeria Police Force has intercepted 103 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and dismantled multiple cross-border criminal operations in a series of coordinated raids across key border states.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the operations are part of a sustained effort to protect Nigeria’s economy from saboteurs and criminal gangs.
Smuggled Fuel and Abandoned Trucks
Hundeyin revealed that 60 jerrycans, concealed in a Toyota Starlet and bound for Cameroon, were intercepted by border patrol operatives in Mubi, Adamawa State. Another 43 jerrycans, ferried on three motorcycles, were seized along a bush path leading to the Benin Republic.
Two fuel-laden trucks were also recovered in Gembu, Taraba State, after smugglers abandoned them during a hot pursuit. At Jibia, Katsina State, a motorcyclist ferrying PMS to Niger Republic dropped his consignment on sighting police patrols.
“These operations show that the police remain vigilant and proactive in cutting off supply routes used by fuel smugglers,” Hundeyin said.
Arrests, Rescues, and Weapon Recoveries
Beyond fuel smuggling, the crackdown extended to other crimes. Two suspects were arrested in Cross River State with locally made pistols hidden in their vehicle. In Ogun State, operatives recovered a pump-action rifle with live cartridges and cannabis abandoned by traffickers.
Human trafficking networks were also disrupted. At Illela, Sokoto State, two suspected traffickers were arrested while attempting to move a 25-year-old victim into Niger Republic. Four others, including two women, were intercepted in Bachaka while trying to move victims to Libya and Italy.
In addition, several stolen and smuggled vehicles, including a Toyota Corolla and a Nissan Micra, were recovered across Katsina and Oyo States. A suspect was also caught with 26 stolen Android phones in Daura.
Hundeyin said these successes highlight the NPF’s determination to weaken cross-border crime networks and protect Nigeria’s economy. “These coordinated operations attest to the unflinching devotion of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding national security,” he stressed.
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