By Kennedy Sheyin
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered another link in the illicit petroleum distribution chain with the interception of a large consignment of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) being transported through Rivers waterways.
This was revealed by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
According to Folorunsho, the discovery was made by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL during routine security patrols around the APS Limited Jetty, Woji.
He said naval personnel observed a wooden boat attempting to discharge its contents under suspicious circumstances during patrol.
He said further investigation revealed that the vessel was laden with approximately 375 sacks containing about 103,500 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO.
“This indicated an organised effort to move illicit petroleum products from remote creek locations into commercial distribution channels,” he said.
He also revealed that the operation exposed a suspected creek-to-market fuel movement route often exploited by criminal elements involved in the illegal petroleum trade.
He said such networks serve as critical links between illegal refining camps and end users, enabling economic saboteurs to profit from stolen national resources.
“The wooden boat and its cargo were subsequently secured and handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, thereby preventing the products from entering the supply chain,” he said.
The Captain reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
He said the Navy will continue operations aimed at dismantling the networks that facilitate crude oil theft, illegal refining, transportation, and distribution of illicit petroleum products across the Niger Delta.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)