Oil Theft: Navy Foils Illegal Transfer of 80,000 Litres of Diesel to Tugboat
The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempted illegal transfer of about 80,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, from a wooden boat to a tugboat at Ijala Creek in Delta State.
The operation, conducted on October 28 by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, led to the interception of both vessels after their crews abandoned them and fled upon sighting approaching naval gunboats.
The Navy disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
According to the statement, the interception was part of a series of operations conducted on October 26 and 28 to combat crude oil theft and other petroleum-related economic sabotage within the Navy’s area of operations in Delta State.
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In a separate operation at Aruton Creek on October 26, naval personnel intercepted another wooden boat carrying approximately 40,000 litres of AGO.
The Navy also discovered a dugout reservoir containing about 20,000 litres of suspected crude oil around the Oteghele general area on the same day.
The operations brought the total volume of petroleum products discovered or intercepted to approximately 140,000 litres, comprising 120,000 litres of AGO and 20,000 litres of suspected crude oil.
The Navy said the interceptions demonstrated its sustained commitment to disrupting illegal petroleum storage and distribution networks and protecting the country’s critical oil and gas assets.
It added that intelligence-led operations and maritime patrols would be intensified to deny economic saboteurs freedom of action and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment.
By PRNigeria
