Navy Arrests Ship With 5.7 Million Litres Of Stolen Crude Oil

Nigerian Navy in a fitness exercise (File Photo)

The Nigerian Navy has announced the seizure of a large vessel, MT Breakthrough, and its crew for allegedly attempting to smuggle 4,574 metric tons (5.790 million litres) of crude oil out of the country.

Capt. Victor Choji, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, told newsmen that the product was suspected to have been stolen from pipelines in Niger Delta region.

Choji stated that the vessel has been on the Navy watch list for suspicious activities over time before its eventual seizure.

“On January 12, MT Breakthrough was arrested by our troops onboard naval patrol gunboats on Dutch Island for suspicious illegal bunkering activities,” he said .

“The vessel which has been under our surveillance for switching off its automatic identification system – to hide its location- was carrying 4,574 metric tons (5,790 million litres) of crude oil.

“The vessel which was shipping crude oil illegally had 11 all-male crew members of Nigerian nationality onboard the vessel.”

Choji further promised the readiness of the navy to protect the nation’s oil installations and defend its territorial waters.

“Investigation would reveal where the vessel was transporting the product to; where it was sourced and who the sponsors are.

“It is on this note that we are handing over the crew members and vessel to EFCC to further unravel details of activities of the suspected illegal shipment,” he said.

The suspects have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution.

A senior officer of the EFCC, Musa Gidado, said the commission would conduct speedy investigation on the matter and arraign the suspects if found guilty.