Nigerian Navy Foils Illegal Fuel Movement, Recovers 22,870 Litres of Diesel in Rivers
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining activities, recovering about 22,870 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, during an intelligence-led operation in Rivers State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, saw personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH intercept a wooden boat transporting 36 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO along a creek in the Orashi Forest area of Okolomade Community, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, bordering Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation followed credible intelligence on the movement of illegally refined petroleum products through the creek corridors.
To further exploit the intelligence, the patrol team deployed aerial surveillance using a drone, which uncovered additional concealed stockpiles hidden under vegetation and inside ponds within the area.
A comprehensive search led to the recovery of another 45 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO, bringing the total seizure to 81 sacks containing approximately 22,870 litres.
The Navy also confiscated the wooden boat used to transport the products, effectively disrupting the logistics chain supporting illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta.
Folorunsho said the recovered products and the boat were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, deny criminal elements freedom of action across Nigeria’s waterways, and safeguard the nation’s strategic economic assets.
