Navy Recovers 63,290 Litres of Illegal Diesel, Seizes Vehicle in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in its ongoing anti-crude oil theft campaign, recovering 63,290 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, and seizing a vehicle linked to an illicit fuel distribution network in Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected illegally refined petroleum products along the Orashi Forest corridor in Okolomade Community, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Navy, operatives intercepted a silver Toyota Camry suspected to be transporting illegally refined AGO. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 17 sacks containing suspected illegally refined diesel.
Further exploitation of the area led security personnel to several concealed storage points hidden under dense vegetation within the forest. Subsequent ground searches resulted in the recovery of an additional 56 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO strategically dispersed across different locations.
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In total, the operation yielded 73 sacks containing approximately 63,290 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, while the Toyota Camry believed to have been used for transportation was also seized.
The Navy said the discovery underscores the growing use of forest corridors and hidden storage facilities by criminal elements seeking to transport illegally refined petroleum products from remote locations into distribution channels.
It noted that the operation successfully disrupted a key link in the illegal petroleum supply chain and further demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations in combating economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.
According to the service, the recovered products were handled in line with existing regulations, while the seized vehicle has been secured pending further necessary action.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL aimed at denying economic saboteurs freedom of action and safeguarding the nation’s critical economic resources from criminal exploitation.
The statement was signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information.
By PRNigeria
