The Nigerian Navy has recorded another significant breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against crude oil theft and illegal petroleum activities, recovering 63,290 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and intercepting a vehicle linked to an illicit fuel distribution network in Rivers State.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was conducted by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected illegally refined petroleum products within the Orashi Forest corridor.
The statement disclosed that naval operatives were deployed to the Okolomade Community axis of Abua-Odual Local Government Area, where intelligence reports indicated the presence of illegal fuel activities. During the operation, the team intercepted a silver Toyota Camry suspected to be transporting illegally refined AGO.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 17 sacks containing suspected illegally refined AGO. Further exploitation of the area uncovered additional concealed stockpiles hidden under dense vegetation at several locations within the forest.
Subsequent ground searches resulted in the recovery of 56 additional sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO strategically dispersed across the area. In total, the operation led to the recovery of 73 sacks containing approximately 63,290 litres of the product, alongside the vehicle believed to have been used for transportation.
The Navy noted that the discovery highlights the growing use of forest corridors and concealed storage locations by criminal elements seeking to move illegally refined petroleum products from remote sites into distribution channels.
It added that the operation successfully disrupted a critical link in the illicit petroleum supply chain and dealt a significant blow to economic saboteurs operating within the region.
The recovered products were handled in line with extant regulations, while the intercepted vehicle was secured for further necessary action.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to deny criminal elements freedom of action and safeguard the nation’s critical economic resources from exploitation.
