The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, disrupting an emerging crude oil theft operation and intercepting a combined 41,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
In the first operation, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, acting on credible intelligence, thwarted suspected attempts by criminal elements to establish illegal connections to oil infrastructure in the Bethel Community axis of Bonny Local Government Area.
According to the Director Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation led to the discovery of an illegal refining site, two pits containing approximately 24,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, as well as extensive hoses believed to have been installed to facilitate crude oil theft.
He said the illegal facilities and associated materials were subsequently handled in accordance with extant regulations.
Folorunsho said the operation was particularly significant as it disrupted the emerging oil theft network before it could become fully operational, thereby denying the criminals the infrastructure required to sustain their illicit activities and cause further economic losses to the Country.
In a separate operation, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER intercepted a speedboat carrying approximately 17,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO along the Onne/Okrika waterways.
The recovered speedboat and the suspected illegally refined petroleum product were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those connected with the illegal activity.
The Navy said the two operations underscored its sustained intelligence-driven campaign to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, disrupt the illicit petroleum supply chain and protect Nigeria’s critical oil and gas assets.
It added that Operation DELTA SENTINEL would continue to target crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage while safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment and strengthening national Economic Security.