Navy intercepts barge, boats laden with stolen oil

• Two suspects arrested

The Central Naval Command in the Niger Delta region has intercepted a barge and five wooden boats loaded with 600,000 metric tons of illegally refined crude oil.

It was gathered the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Soroh, conducted the operation that led to the arrest of the barge christened, Merchant Vessel (MV) CHUZY1, at Beama community, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

The Commander, NNS Soroh, Commodore Habib Usman, who confirmed the operation yesterday, said the barge and the boats were laden with a product suspected to be Automated Gas Oil (AGO).

He said two suspects identified as Chibueze Patrick and one Toyin were also apprehended during the raid.


Soroh said: “The Navy will continue to uphold the tenets of zero tolerance against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and other sundry crimes in the Niger Delta Region.”

He said the wooden boats were allegedly used to convey the product from the illegal refining point to the barge for loading.

He added: “The wooden boats were suspected to be used to convey the illegally refined Automated Gas Oil from the refining points to the barge for loading.

“As of the time of the arrest one of the boats had finished trans-loading its product into the barge.

“Consequently, the personnel of Forward Operating Base FORMOSO with own gunboats and tug boat towed the barge to own jetty for further investigation.

“However, the wooden boats were destroyed. Also the two suspects are in custody for preliminary investigation and prosecution”.