By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal petroleum distribution under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, dismantling a major black-market fuel supply network in Rivers State.
The operation was carried out earlier today by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER during anti-crude oil theft patrols within the Okrika axis of the state.
According to the Navy, the operation led to the discovery of a warehouse around Okochiri Kingdom in Okrika Local Government Area, where 410 drums containing an estimated 123,000 litres of substance suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were uncovered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the products were allegedly sourced from illegal refining camps outside the community before being stockpiled at the location for onward distribution through clandestine supply channels.
The Navy noted that the discovery underscores the evolving tactics of economic saboteurs, who are increasingly shifting operations from traditional illegal refining camps to concealed storage and distribution facilities in a bid to evade security surveillance and sustain illicit fuel trade across the Niger Delta region.
The seized products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, while further surveillance and operational assessments are ongoing in the area.
The Nigerian Navy stated that Operation DELTA SENTINEL remains focused on dismantling the logistics and supply networks sustaining crude oil theft, illegal refining and illicit petroleum distribution across the region.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s economic assets, the Navy said it would continue intelligence-driven operations aimed at denying economic saboteurs freedom of operation within Nigeria’s maritime environment, in line with the strategic vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
