Navy parades 11, vessel laden with 4,000MT stolen crude
The Operatives of the Nigerian Navy in Delta on Friday paraded MT Camilee Vessel laden with about 4,000 metric tons of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Eleven crew members apprehended aboard the vessel were also paraded at the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS), DELTA, Warri naval base.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, Commander, NNS DELTA, Commodore Raimi Mohammed and other officers, paraded the vessel and the suspects.
Suleiman said the vessel was apprehended for lack of valid documents, in addition to being in possession of the suspected stolen crude oil.
The naval boss said the vessel and its crew members were intercepted on November 15 by naval personnel on routine patrol along Forcados offshore in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.
He said the suspects were currently being interrogated, adding that they would be handed over to the appropriate quarters as soon as investigation was concluded.
Suleiman said that the arrest was a major breakthrough in the war against oil theft and other criminal activities in the waterways.
He warned those engaged in the illicit deal to desist from it, describing it as economic sabotage.
Mohammed said that the Navy was determined to fight the illegalities in the territorial waters to a standstill with the use of state of the art technological equipment.
According to the Navy, the Capt. of the seized vessel (names withheld) admitted to the crime, adding that he had made about three trips conveying crude oil or refined product from Nigeria to Ghana and Cameroon.
“Before my ship was arrested by the navy, it was leaking and we run out of bunker and victuals.
“We also suffer in the hands of pirates while heading for Forcados to receive bunker and victuals from someone who promised to assist us,’’ he said.
(NAN)