Nigerian Navy Intercepts 15,500 Litres of Suspected Stolen Petroleum Products in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, intercepting two wooden boats conveying about 15,500 litres of petroleum products suspected to have been illegally obtained along the Okrika waterways in Rivers State.

The operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, was conducted by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected stolen petroleum products within its area of responsibility.

In a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Navy said the operation formed part of its sustained intelligence-driven efforts to curb crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta.

According to the statement, the Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team intercepted the first wooden boat during a night patrol after suspected oil thieves abandoned the vessel and fled into nearby creeks on sighting the naval patrol.

A search of the boat led to the discovery of several sacks containing approximately 12,000 litres of a substance suspected to be stolen crude oil.

The patrol was subsequently extended to adjoining waterways, where naval personnel intercepted another wooden boat carrying 10 drums and seven 50-litre jerrycans filled with about 3,500 litres of product suspected to be siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The Navy noted that the latest interceptions highlight the continued use of inland waterways and concealed creek routes by criminal syndicates to transport illegally obtained petroleum products.

It stated that by targeting these movement corridors, the Service continues to disrupt the logistics network sustaining crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the country's oil-rich region.

The intercepted boats and the recovered petroleum products have been secured and handled in line with established operational procedures, while surveillance has been intensified across the area to identify additional routes and criminal networks involved in the illicit trade.

The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, stressing that it would continue to protect the nation's critical oil infrastructure, secure Nigeria's maritime domain and deny economic saboteurs the freedom to operate in the Niger Delta.