Odita Sunday 
Navy Intercepts Boats Conveying 15,500 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude, PMS in Rivers
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta, intercepting two wooden boats transporting about 15,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Rivers State, in what it described as another major operational success under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Director Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected stolen petroleum products within the Okrika waterways.
Folorunsho said the interception occurred during a night patrol when the ship’s Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team sighted a wooden boat abandoned by suspected oil thieves, who reportedly fled into nearby creeks on noticing the naval patrol.
He disclosed that a search of the vessel uncovered several sacks containing about 12,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil.
The naval patrol subsequently extended its operation across adjoining waterways, where another wooden boat was intercepted carrying 10 drums and seven 50-litre jerrycans containing about 3,500 litres of product suspected to be siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Navy noted that the latest interceptions highlight the continued use of inland waterways and concealed creek routes by criminal networks to transport illegally obtained petroleum products.
It added that by targeting these routes, the Nigerian Navy is disrupting the logistics chain that sustains crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta.
The statement further revealed that the recovered boats and petroleum products had been secured in line with established operational procedures, while surveillance across the area had been intensified to identify additional routes and networks supporting the illicit trade.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s economic assets, the Nigerian Navy said it would continue intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to protect critical oil infrastructure, secure Nigeria’s maritime domain and deny economic saboteurs freedom of operation in the Niger Delta.
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