Police seizes over 100 jerrycans of petrol destined for illegal cross-border smuggling

Police seizes over 100 jerrycans of petrol destined for illegal cross-border smuggling

Abdullateef Fowewe

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Border Patrol Unit have intercepted more than one hundred jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, preventing their illegal transport across Nigeria’s borders.

According to a statement on Saturday by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer, during a stop-and-search operation along the Illela–Sokoto Highway, officers apprehended a vehicle carrying eighty jerrycans of PMS and arrested the driver, Yasir Adamu.

Preliminary investigations revealed the suspect intended to smuggle the petroleum product into the Niger Republic.

In a related operation, Border Patrol officers in Katsina recovered an additional thirty-five jerrycans, each containing twenty-five litres of petrol, which were abandoned by suspects who fled upon sighting the police. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, commended the officers for their vigilance and professionalism, reiterating the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustain robust operations against all forms of economic crimes,” the statement noted.