The Nigerian Navy has declared that, as part of Operation Delta Sentinel, it has continued its operation against crude oil theft and unlawful refining. This was demonstrated by the discovery of roughly 1,600 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive petrol oil (AGO) during an intelligence-led operation in Rivers State.
According to Captain A. Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the operation was carried out by personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh in response to credible intelligence regarding the movement and concealment of illegally refined petroleum products within the Okolomade Community in the Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, which borders the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to the statement, the Anti-Crude Oil Theft (Anti-COT) team was quickly deployed to the Orashi Forest region in response to intelligence obtained. Aerial monitoring employing an unmanned system resulted in the discovery of several sacks thought to contain illegally processed AGO buried beneath woodland grasses.
Subsequent exploration of the location yielded 16 sacks, each holding roughly 100 litres, for a total of 1,600 litres of product thought to be illegally processed AGO.
“When the suspects noticed naval personnel, they fled the scene, and no arrests were made.” “The recovered products were then evacuated and managed in accordance with established operational procedures,” the statement added.
The operation demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s continuous commitment under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle illegal refining networks and stopping economic saboteurs from operating freely in the marine and coastal environments.
The Nigerian Navy emphasised that there will be no safe haven for criminal elements involved in crude oil theft and other acts of economic sabotage, as ongoing operations are designed to prevent such individuals from fleeing across the country’s waterways and nearby creeks.