NSCDC Stops Fuel Smuggling Operation in Ogun, Seizes 4,200 Litres of Petrol as Suspects Evade Arrest

Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) successfully intercepted and confiscated 4,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the Akere area of Ipokia Local Government Area. Although, suspected smugglers managed to escape arrest upon the NSCDC’s intervention.

The NSCDC state commandant, Idowu Ojelabi, revealed that the interception was the result of credible intelligence received from the public regarding bunkering activities by suspected smugglers in the area. The NSCDC Marine team, acting on this information, conducted a two-day surveillance operation, eventually locating the suspects who were preparing to transport the illegal products to Benin Republic.

Ojelabi disclosed that the suspects, upon spotting the NSCDC patrol team, hastily jumped into the water and swam away, eluding capture. The seized products were concealed in 42 sacks, each estimated to contain around 100 litres of PMS. The total market value of the confiscated fuel is substantial, and the NSCDC emphasized the economic impact of such smuggling activities.

The NSCDC commandant stressed the corps’s commitment to apprehending the suspects and bringing them to justice. Ojelabi highlighted the adverse effects of fuel smuggling on the nation’s economy and reiterated the NSCDC’s determination to combat various forms of criminality, including armed robbery, kidnapping, vandalization of national assets, bunkering, and oil theft.

This successful operation follows the recent efforts by the NSCDC in Ogun State, where they paraded individuals involved in vandalizing electricity cables and engaging in drug peddling. Ojelabi underscored the NSCDC’s robust relationship with the public through civil-military cooperation, expressing confidence in obtaining valuable information from the community to apprehend the culprits behind such criminal activities.