Acting under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, the Navy sustained its operational momentum against crude oil theft with yet another successful mission, disrupting the movement of illegally refined petroleum products through the riverine terrain of the Niger Delta.
According to a press release signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the operation was triggered by credible intelligence that led personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH to the Orashi Forest area of Okolomade Community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, which borders Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The deployment followed reports of suspected movement of illegally refined products in the general area.
Upon arrival at the scene, the patrol team intercepted a wooden boat conveying 36 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO along an adjoining creek. To further exploit the intelligence, aerial surveillance was conducted using a drone, which led to the identification of additional concealed stockpiles hidden under vegetation and inside ponds within the area.
Navy seizes wooden boat, disrupts illegal fuel logistics chain
A detailed search subsequently led to the recovery of an additional 45 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed at different locations, bringing the total recovery to 81 sacks containing approximately 22,870 litres.
“The operation also denied criminal elements the use of the intercepted wooden boat for the transportation of illicit petroleum products,” the statement read. The recovered products and the wooden boat were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, further disrupting the logistics chain supporting illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, with the overarching goal of dismantling crude oil theft networks, denying criminal elements freedom of action across the nation’s waterways, and protecting Nigeria’s strategic economic assets.
“The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, deny criminal elements freedom of action across the nation’s waterways, and protect Nigeria’s strategic economic assets,” Captain Folorunsho emphasized.
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