The Presidency has released a compendium showing that the Federal Government has arrested over 50 vessels on account of illegal oil bunkering.
This was disclosed in a compendium released by the Consultant and Coordinator of President Buhari Legacy Projects, Mr. Patriot Ata Ikiddeh hashtagged #ExtraodinaryAchievementsOfPresidentBuhari.
According to the compendium, President Muhammadu Buhari emerged the first Nigerian Head of State and Petroleum Oil Minister to have secured the most arrests, prosecutions and convictions on illegal oil bunkering since 1960, by the Nigerian Navy.
See the compendium below:
(1) MT TIM BEGELE
The Nigerian Navy on Friday handed over 57 Nigerians, seven Sri-Lankans and two Ghanaians, suspected to be involved in oil bunkering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The News Agency of Nigeria also reports that the seven vessels, involved in the oil bunkering and having no valid approval, were arrested by the Nigerian Navy between December 3 and 30, 2019.
(2) MT ZEEBRUGEE
“MT Zeebrugge was arrested on December 12, 2019 laden with 838 metric tonnes of crude oil without any valid approval. She had a crew of seven Sri-Lakans on board.
(3) MT JONKO
The Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, today, March 19, secured the conviction of eleven oil thieves alongside their Vessel, MT Jonko , before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
(4) MV EKPERE AMAKA
MV Ekpere Amaka was arrested on December 25, 2019 with 85 metric tonnes of AGO without valid approval. She had a crew of eight Nigerians onboard.
(5) MV ELLA
MV Ella, which had one Ghanaian and 6 Nigerians on board, was arrested on December 27, carrying 100 metric tonnes of AGO.
(6) MT IBIM
Similarly, MT IBIM, which was arrested on December 27 was laden with 840.5 metric tonnes of crude oil and had a crew of 14 Nigerians on board.
(7) MV LAIDA
While MV LAIDA with one Ghanaian and seven Nigerians as its crew members was arrested on December 30 and was arrested carrying 180 metric tonnes of AGO.
(8) MV MESSIAH
Authorities of the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy says it arrested four vessels with large barge transporting about two million litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
Rear Admiral Saidu Suleiman Garba, the FOC, Central Naval Command, said while men and officers of the command were on patrol, four vessels namely MV Messiah 1, Barge Miracle, Barge KOME XVIII and NICHOLAS Marine were arrested at various locations within Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state for various infractions.
(9) BARGE MIRACLE
Authorities of the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy says it arrested four vessels with large barge transporting about two million litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), namely BARGE MIRACLE.
(10) BARGE KOME XVIII
Authorities of the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy says it arrested four vessels with large barge transporting about two million litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), namely BARGE KOME XVIII.
(11) BARGE NICHOLAS MARINE
Authorities of the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy says it arrested four vessels with large barge transporting about two million litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), namely BARGE NICHOLAS MARINE.
(12) EDIDIONG AJ
Edidiong AJ The Venezuelan: Roderick Rivero and Nigerians: Oluwole Olaitan, Emmanuel Emeka Okeke, Olota Albert and Richard Asubi were arrested on June 20, 2022 by officers of the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Victory, in Calabar, Cross River state while onboard a vessel, MV Edidiong AJ, loaded with unspecified quantity of petroleum products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.
(13) MV OMISANI
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently received twelve suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an unnamed barge and two wooden boats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for further investigation and prosecution.
(14) MV OMISAN & ONE WOODEN VESSEL
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently received twelve suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 and two wooden boats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for further investigation and prosecution.
(15) MV OMISAN & ONE WOODEN VESSEL
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently received twelve suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an unnamed barge and two wooden boats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for further investigation and prosecution.
(16) MV DENIS
Troops on Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt have impounded five vessels and a boat from Benin Republic laden with illegally refined diesel.
The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that operators of the vessels and boat were caught in a private jetty in Port Harcourt discretely discharging about 108,000 litres of diesel into badges without licence.
We discovered on Monday that the vessels – MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat – were discharging illegally refined products into five badges.
“This is a clear case of illegal bunkering going by the position of the Federal Government on sourcing and distribution of illegally refined petroleum products.
(17) MV FAITH
Troops on Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt have impounded five vessels and a boat from Benin Republic laden with illegally refined diesel. MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat – were discharging illegally refined products into five badges.
(18) MV LUM VII
Troops on Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt have impounded five vessels and a boat from Benin Republic laden with illegally refined diesel. MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat – were discharging illegally refined products into five badges.
(19) MV ELIORA
Troops on Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt have impounded five vessels and a boat from Benin Republic laden with illegally refined diesel. MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat – were discharging illegally refined products into five badges.
(20) FP COMFORT
Troops on Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt have impounded five vessels and a boat from Benin Republic laden with illegally refined diesel. MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat – were discharging illegally refined products into five badges.
(21) MV KAMSI
5 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL OIL DEALERS ARRESTED, VESSEL SEIZED IN LAGOS
A Vessel named MV Kamsi and five crew members, arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos for illegal dealing in petroleum product have been handed over to the State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
(22) MV MOTHER COMFORT
Meanwhile the Commission has also taken over another vessel, MV Mother Comfort with its 12 crew members for investigation and prosecution, after they were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft on July 24, 2020.
The MV Mother Comfort, at the time of arrest, was laden with 237 metric tons of AGO.
The vessels alongside the suspected oil thieves will soon be charged to court for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products.
(23) MV CHAYANEE NAREE
Acting on credible intelligence from Interpol, the Nigerian Navy, commenced tracking of a vessel, MV CHAYANEE NAREE, suspected of attempting to smuggle narcotics into Nigeria.
“Using the Nigerian Navy Falcon Eye Maritime Domain Awareness system, the Navy monitored the vessel and discovered that the vessel departed Santos Brazil on 19 Sep 21 and drifted for a week at a position about 250nm (approximately 500 kilometres) off the coast of Benin Republic from 1 to 8 Oct before setting sail and arriving Nigeria on 8 Oct 21.
…the search team was rewarded when a bag was found in the Vessel’s Cargo Compartment One. Tests conducted on the contents of the bag by the NDLEA confirmed the substance to be cocaine wrapped in 30 slabs weighing 32.9 kg.
(24) MV EFEMENA
The Uyo zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday July 27, 2018, took over a merchant vessel MV EFEMENA along with its content of 773,472 litres of illegally refined petroleum product and 8 crew members from the Nigerian Navy in Calabar Cross River state.
(25) MT TIS IV
Bunkering: Navy Intercepts Vessel Carrying Illegal Crude Oil In Bayelsa
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Soroh) has arrested a vessel “MT TIS IV” carrying 4,402 barrels of illegally sourced crude oil worth about $315,500 (N148, 281,000) in Akassa River in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Navy also arrested 20 suspected crude oil thieves onboard the vessel trying to lift the illegal crude to their destinations.
(26) MV EUROPORT
An oil vessel carrying about 1,500 metric tons of illegally refined automotive gas oil was seized by men of the Joint Task Force in Bayelsa State.
Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa on Friday, spokesperson of the JTF, Lt Col Ado Isa, disclosed that the vessel, registered as MV Europort, was seized at Foropa waterways in Bayelsa.
(27) MT PLATFORM
Two vessels, MT Platform and MV Caribbean Crest alongside a crew of 22 suspected oil thieves were on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution by the Nigerian Navy.
(28) MV CARIBBEAN CREST
Two vessels, MT Platform and MV Caribbean Crest alongside a crew of 22 suspected oil thieves were on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution by the Nigerian Navy.
(29) SUPER TANKER VLCC
Equatorial Guinea Detains Super Tanker VLCC Accused of Oil Theft by Nigeria
A 300, 000 dwt VLCC got into a dispute with the Nigerian authorities last week and was ultimately chased down and detained by the navy of neighboring Equatorial Guinea while the dispute is being investigated. Reports coming from the West African countries said that Equatorial Guinea has separately arrested the vessel contending that it illegally entered its water without permission as it sought to evade the Nigerian forces.
Built in 2020 the VLCC is named Heroic Idun and according to the AIS signal， she remains anchored at the port of Luba， which is used mostly as a logging port on the island Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea. The Nigerian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness facility was the first to detect the vessel. They reported the vessel for suspicious activity saying that they did not believe the vessel had permits from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)， nor other valid documents to be at the offshore field. Despite that, they believed the vessel was loading oil.
After the tanker departed the terminal, the Nigerian Navy ship Gongola tried to establish communication with the tanker. They were attempting to question the vessel on its activity and inspect its papers.
According to the media reports， the tanker resisted the contract and at one point issued a warning of an attempted boarding that was recorded by the International Maritime Bureau. The media is calling the report a false alarm but says that when the vessel was ordered to proceed to Bonny Fairway for further interrogation，it instead increased its speed and changed its direction toward Sao Tome and Principe. The Nigerian forces requested the assistance of neighboring Equatorial Guinea in the pursuit of the crude oil tanker. Nguema reports that the vessel was stopped on the afternoon of August 12 and ordered to sail to Equatorial Guinea.
(30) MV SELAH
The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, has intercepted four barges laden with 1.75 million litres of suspected adulterated diesel believed to worth over N450 million.
The barges, MV Selah 1; MV Akemijoe, MV Abiliba and MV Yoma were laden with estimated 800,000, 350,000, 400,000 and 200,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel respectively.
(31) MV AKEMIJOE
The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, has intercepted four barges laden with 1.75 million litres of suspected adulterated diesel believed to worth over N450 million.
The barges, MV Selah 1; MV Akemijoe; MV Abiliba and MV Yoma were laden with estimated 800,000, 350,000, 400,000 and 200,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel respectively.
(32) MV ALIBABA
The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, has intercepted four barges laden with 1.75 million litres of suspected adulterated diesel believed to worth over N450 million.
The barges, MV Selah 1; MV Akemijoe ; MV Abiliba and MV Yoma were laden with estimated 800,000, 350,000, 400,000 and 200,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel respectively.
(33) MV YOMA
The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, has intercepted four barges laden with 1.75 million litres of suspected adulterated diesel believed to worth over N450 million.
The barges, MV Selah 1; MV Akemijoe; MV Abiliba and MV Yoma were laden with estimated 800,000, 350,000, 400,000 and 200,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel respectively.
(34) MV Elizabeth – 1
The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta, today, April 8, 2019, handed over a motor vessel, MV Mama Elizabeth-1 and eight crew members allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office for further investigation and possible prosecution. The suspects are, ThankGod Ojuyaina, Ambrose Ejedafeta, Aaron France, Joseph Ogeneboh, Christopher Egba, Obarako Ovie, David Sunday and John Eyengho.
Captain Adeyemi F. Adewuyi who represented the Commander of NNS Delta at the handing over in Warri stated that the vessel, MV Mama Elizabeth-1, was intercepted on March 15, 2019, along Escravos River by FOB Escravos. The vessel was allegedly loaded with 100,000 litres of AGO without valid naval approval.
(35) MV CAPTAIN SAMUEL
The Nigerian Navy has handed over four suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Rivers State. They are Ebenezer Afonka (captain), Bernard Umor (engineer), Kingsley Monday, and Ishmael Willy, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed in a statement. The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the anti-graft agency received the suspects from the navy on Tuesday alongside a vessel – MV Captain Samuel.
(36) SIX FOREIGNERS CONVICTED
Six Foreigners, Nigerian Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Oil Theft
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced six foreigners and a Nigerian to seven years imprisonment for oil theft.
(37) MT LADY SMITHIN
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of nine suspected oil thieves, who were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Bonny, Rivers State and handed over to the Commission for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The suspected illegal oil bunkerers are being quizzed in the Port Harcourt’s zonal office of the EFCC.
They were handed over to the EFCC by the Commanding Officer, FOB Bonny, Captain S.W. Olorundare. While handing over the suspects and the vessel to the EFCC, Olorundare said that the Nigerian Navy Ship OLOGBO, while on patrol on January 13, 2017, arrested MT LADY SWITHIN along Calabar offshore, conveying about 300,000 litres of products, suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
(38) MV SKYE
The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Monday rearrested and handed over a vessel (MV SKYE) laden with five hundred and twenty four metric tonnes of illegal products to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, for investigation and prosecution.
Cdr. Dewu disclosed that the vessel was arrested by the Joint Task Force (Operation Delta Safe) in 2014 and was handed over and tried by the EFCC for the offence.
“However, the vessel was released on bond by a Court in Port-Harcourt and Operation Delta Safe released this vessel with about 388 metric tonnes of products, crude oil on board.
(39) MT LADY OCHY
The Nigerian Navy says it has arrested nine suspects at the Bonny waterways in Rivers, in connection with smuggling of undisclosed quantity of crude oil.
The Executive Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Capt. Adegoke Ebo, disclosed this on Friday in Bonny, while handing over the suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ebo alleged the suspects lifted the oil from illegal refineries scattered across creeks in the Niger Delta. He said, “In line with the Nigerian Navy policing role, our patrol team intercepted and seized MT Lady Ochy together with eight suspects onboard the vessel on Dec. 1.
“MT Lady Ochy was seized around Sambero River in the state on suspicion of its involvement in crude oil theft.
“At the time of seizure, the vessel was laden with unspecified quantity of petroleum product suspected to be crude oil.”
(40) MV WESTERN ORIENT
MV Temile, AHT Ajemisan and Jascon 23 as well as two large wooden boats and a barge, Ana Marine,
No fewer than 57 sailors have been arrested in Rivers by the Nigerian Navy for allegedly smuggling crude oil and illegally refining diesel.
The all-male sailors, including a Ukrainian, a Mexican and 55 Nigerians, were arrested between Aug. 11 and Aug. 25 onboard four vessels, two wooden boats and a barge.
Capt. Adegoke Ebo, Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, spoke in Onne, Rivers, while handing over the suspects and items to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday.
“The suspects were intercepted by the NNS Pathfinder patrol team around Onne Anchorage and Okochiri creek in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers.
“The four vessels, MV Western Orient, MV Temile, AHT Ajemisan and Jascon 23 as well as two large wooden boats and a barge, Ana Marine, all had 57 crew members onboard.
(41) MV TEMILE
AHT Ajemisan and Jascon 23 as well as two large wooden boats and a barge, Ana Marine
No fewer than 57 sailors have been arrested in Rivers by the Nigerian Navy for allegedly smuggling crude oil and illegally refining diesel. The four vessels, MV Western Orient, MV Temile, AHT Ajemisan and Jascon 23 as well as two large wooden boats and a barge, Ana Marine, all had 57 crew members onboard.
(42) MT AROWOLO
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder on Tuesday said its operatives arrested a motor tanker, MT Arowolo, over the vessel’s alleged ‘suspicious movement’ around Onne Anchorage in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The navy said the anchorage was known in security circles as a notorious zone for illegal activities by oil thieves. Speaking at the handing over of the vessel and two suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Onne, the Base Operation Officer, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Murtala Rogo, said troops on board naval gunboats, on a routine patrol of Onne waterways, intercepted MT Arowolo on April 11, 2018. MT Arowolo was sighted discreetly moving along Onne anchorage with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off at several times without any justifiable reason,” he said. Rogo further said that unknown to the suspects; troops were still able to monitor the movement of the suspected illicit vessel through its radar.
(43) MV LADY ESTHER
The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office has commenced investigations into the activities of twenty nine (29) suspected oil thieves alleged to be involved in illegal oil bunkering. They were handed over to the EFCC on Friday, June 7, 2019 alongside 4 Vessels comprising one Barge and 3 Wooden boats.They were handed over by Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE (NNS JUBILEE) in Ikot- Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. Other items handed over to the EFCC include a Truck laden with products suspected to be illegally refined and 306 drums laden with products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO).
Three of the suspects were arrested along Hospital Road, Ikot- Abasi, Akwa- Ibom State and the remaining four suspects were crew of a Tugboat: MV LADY ESTHER arrested in the course of towing a confiscated Barge in Onne, Rivers State. They were handed over to the EFCC on Friday, June 7, 2019 alongside 4 Vessels comprising one Barge and 3 WOODEN BOATS
(44) THE CASE OF MV LADY ESTHER & 3 LOCALLY MADE WOODEN BOATS
Three of the suspects were arrested along Hospital Road, Ikot- Abasi, Akwa- Ibom State and the remaining four suspects were crew of a Tugboat: MV LADY ESTHER arrested in the course of towing a confiscated Barge in Onne, Rivers State.
(45) MT QUEEN OF PEACE
The Nigerian Navy has arrested a vessel, MT QUEEN OF PEACE, laden with an unspecified quantity of crude oil on the Bonny Fair Way Buoy.
According to a statement released on Thursday by Navy spokesman Commodore AO Ayo-Vaughan, the vessel was arrested during its Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS, a multinational maritime exercise in West Africa, on 11th March, 2022. He said the Vessel which was under surveillance by the navy had been of interest for over a year after it was last sighted at the Trans Amadi Jetty in Port Harcourt. The statement added that the vessel switched off her Automatic Identification System (AIS) and proceeded on 3 weeks of dark (unknown) activities but was successfully intercepted South West of Bonny Fair Way Buoy on 15 March 2022.
He said, “The dark activities of the vessel was monitored by the Nigerian Navy Falcon Eye Surveillance System and Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU was detached from the Exercise OBANGAME to intercept and arrest the vessel. Subsequent interrogation revealed that the vessel with 14 crew members onboard was laden with unspecified quantity of crude oil.
(46) MV HAILUFANG II
The arrested pirates by Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has said it arrested 10 pirates who had hijacked a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II off the coast of Ivory Coast.
It said 18 crew members on board the vessel were rescued. Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, the Commander Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT said that the arrest and rescue happened on 15 May 2020. The pirates took control of the vessel and directed the vessel toward Nigerian waters”, he said. Shettima said that the Nigerian Navy was alerted of the attack. It immediately dispatched the NNS NGURU to intercept the vessel. On interception of the vessel at about 140nm south of Lagos Fairway Buoy, the pirates refused to comply with the orders of the Navy Ship.
“Hence, the NN had to conduct an opposed boarding of the vessel.
“All ships crew were safely rescued, while the 10 pirates were arrested,” he said. The NN also warned criminals within the GoG to desist from their acts. The NN has the capability and will power to deal with such perpetrators,” he said. Shettima said the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, was committed to ensuring maritime security within Nigeria’s maritime space and the Gulf of Guinea.
(47) MT NELI
The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta, on Monday, February 17, 2020 handed over two Motor Tankers, Neli and Madam Esther, a Barge and a Wooden Tugboat allegedly used for illegal oil bunkering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office for further investigation.
Captain AV Kujoh who represented NNS Delta at the handing over in Warri stated that the motor tankers were arrested by Forward Operating Base Escravos and Nigerian Navy Ship Bomadi for allegedly being used for illegal oil bunkering and theft.
(48) MT MADAM ESTHER
The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta, on Monday, February 17, 2020 handed over two Motor Tankers, Neli and Madam Esther, a Barge and a Wooden Tugboat allegedly used for illegal oil bunkering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office for further investigation.
(49) WOODEN TUG BOAT FOR ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING
The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta, on Monday, February 17, 2020 handed over two Motor Tankers, Neli and Madam Esther, a Barge and a Wooden Tugboat allegedly used for illegal oil bunkering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office for further investigation.
(50) SEA ANGEL 3 BOAT
During the voyage, over 100 vessels were interrogated, with about 40 boarded out of which two arrests were made. Arrests of two vessels were made by the NNS Centenary and one of the NIMASSA’s boats during the operation. In the first arrest, an American, four Greeks and five Nigerians on board Sea Angel 3 boat were arrested over questionable dealings bothering on illegal arms and ammunitions. Recovered from the suspects were sophisticated weapons and military kits .The Officer-in-charge of Tactical Command, OTC, Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor, who was onboard NNS Centenary, explained that the arrest and startling discovery were made during a search conducted on the ship.
Modus oparandi
The arrested vessel, according to him, was sighted via the Navy’s Sea Vision through its Regional Maritime Awareness Centre, even though the arrested vessel did not beam its electronic gadget while at sea, to indicate its position. This action which is against the International Maritime Organisation, is a common feature used by criminals on sea, to avoid being detected. This attracted the Navy which contacted the ship and subjected its Captain to interrogation. Not satisfied with the Captain’s response, particularly as the ship had similar colour with the Nigerian Navy’s, a search was conducted where a startling discovery of assaulted riffles (Bernelli MR-1) with 1000 rounds of ammunition and various military kits were found inside the ship.
The suspects included three Greeks, one American and five Nigerians
(51) ARRESTED CRUDE OIL THIEF ABOUT TO BLOW UP OIL PIPELINE WITH DYNAMITE FOR PROBABLE ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING Read more.
Read also: