The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major success in its campaign against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering with the interception of two wooden boats transporting about 15,500 litres of petroleum products believed to have been illegally obtained in Rivers State.
The operation was carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL within the Okrika waterways after security personnel received credible intelligence on the movement of suspected stolen petroleum products through the area.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was executed by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER as part of ongoing efforts to combat economic sabotage and strengthen security across the Niger Delta.
According to the statement, members of the Navy’s Anti Crude Oil Theft Team intercepted the first wooden boat during a night patrol after its occupants reportedly abandoned the vessel and fled into nearby creeks on sighting the naval team.
A search of the abandoned boat uncovered several sacks containing about 12,000 litres of a substance suspected to be stolen crude oil.
The operation continued into nearby waterways, where naval personnel intercepted another wooden boat carrying 10 drums and seven 50 litre jerrycans loaded with about 3,500 litres of suspected Premium Motor Spirit believed to have been illegally siphoned.
The Navy said the operation exposed the continued use of remote waterways and hidden creek channels by criminal groups to transport illegally acquired petroleum products across the region.
It explained that sustained surveillance and targeted operations along these routes are helping to weaken the logistics network used to support crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta.
The statement added that the recovered boats and petroleum products have been secured in accordance with operational procedures, while surveillance has been intensified to uncover additional routes and identify those behind the illegal activities.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nation’s economic interests, the Nigerian Navy said it will continue intelligence driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to safeguard critical oil infrastructure, secure Nigeria’s maritime environment and deny economic saboteurs the opportunity to operate within the country’s waterways.
The latest seizure adds to a growing number of successful operations carried out by the Navy in recent months as authorities intensify efforts to curb crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage. The sustained crackdown is expected to strengthen the protection of national assets, support increased oil production and disrupt illegal petroleum activities across the Niger Delta.
