How Navy Drone Surveillance Exposed Secret Oil Theft Reservoir in Delta
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed crude oil storage site containing about 17,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Delta State, following an intelligence-led operation supported by aerial surveillance under Operation Delta Sentinel.
The discovery was made by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA during a targeted operation around the Ugbokodo Creek axis after receiving credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft activities in the area.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, naval personnel initially found no obvious signs of illegal activity during a ground search of the location.
However, further analysis of drone-generated imagery and aerial surveillance footage revealed a large reservoir that had been deliberately concealed beneath leaves, wooden planks, and dense vegetation in an attempt to evade detection.
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The Navy said subsequent exploitation of the site led to the recovery of approximately 17,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil stored inside the camouflaged reservoir.
The statement noted that the site showed clear evidence of recent crude oil theft activities and was believed to have served as a temporary storage facility within an illegal supply network operating in the Niger Delta.
“The discovery highlights the increasingly sophisticated concealment methods being adopted by criminal elements to sustain crude oil theft operations. However, the integration of intelligence-led operations and aerial surveillance capabilities continues to enhance the Nigerian Navy’s ability to detect and disrupt such illegal activities,” the statement said.
The Navy added that the reservoir, recovered products and associated materials were handled in line with established operational procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to support further criminal activities.
It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on crude oil theft networks through persistent surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and coordinated actions aimed at protecting Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure and economic interests.
By PRNigeria
