The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder disclosed on Sunday that its operatives foiled attempts by smuggles and pipeline vandals to move 1.1 million litres of diesel siphoned from pipelines of multinational oil companies in Rivers.
The diesel was intercepted while being ferried on berges to awaiting customers and collaborators.
Also, about 13 suspects have been arrested over criminal roles in illegal shipment of petroleum products to undisclosed locations in the state.
Making the disclosures at a briefing, Capt. Victor Choji, the Executive Officer of NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, stated that the seizure and arrest was sequel to the intensified mop-up operation in the Niger Delta ordered by naval headquarters to stamp out oil theft and illegal refining in the region.
Choji disclosed that a vessel, a tug boat, a barge and five large wooden boats were also seized at different locations during the operation.
The seized items and suspects were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action.
He said, “In line with strategic directives to rid Rivers State of oil theft and illegal bunkering, troops of NNS Pathfinder under Operation Delta Safe, made some arrests and seizures at different locations.
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“On May 6, troops intercepted and seized a vessel, MT Preye I and five very large wooden boats with about 409,399 litres of suspected refined diesel at Eagle Island.
“Eleven crew members on board the vessel were subsequently arrested and had been in our custody undergoing investigation”.
Giving further details, he said the suspects were caught while loading the petroleum product from five wooden boats in the late hours of the night.
“In a similar vein, On June 19, troops impounded a tug boat, PK II, and a barge, Naomi 03, laden with about 700,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel” he said.
“Two suspects were arrested over their involvement in the illegal shipment of the petroleum product”.
“A large number of troops had been deployed in the region in line with a harmonized standard operating procedure aimed at enforcing law and order in the area” he added.
Choji pledged that the navy would not rest in its bid to stop all forms of illegalities in the maritime environment.
In his speech before taking over the items and suspects, Micheal Adukwu, a senior staff of the EFCC, commended the navy and said that there was a synergy in the operations of the two security outfits.
He promised that EFCC would carry out further investigations and prosecute the suspects.
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