The Navy has seized a vessel containing over 386,000 litres of crude in Delta State.
Nine suspects were arrested.
The Commander of Naval Base, Warri, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu spoke yesterday when the cargo, MT Nipal, with nine persons, were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He said the suspects were nabbed for illegally siphoning oil at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Afremo field. He said the arrest was made on January 31.
The commander said four of the vessel’s eight tanks bore the product.
“MT Nipal was impounded on January 31. The vessel was confiscated at SPDC Afremo field. It carried 386,000 litres of crude.
“We first carried out investigations. Thereafter, we handed over the vessel and suspects to security agencies. We have handed over the vessel and its crew, about nine Nigerians, to EFCC to carry out investigations.”
Dewu, who said the Navy would not relent in its efforts to reduce illegal operations on the waterways, advised those intending to go into crude business to do so legally.
He said: “My advice to them is that they should desist from carrying out these illegal activities. If they want to go into oil business, there are proper ways to follow. Nothing will stop us from getting them arrested because this is our duty. Stay away from illegalities.”
EFCC, after collecting samples of the product on the vessel, promised to carry out findings on the nine arrested men on board MT Nipal.
A Senior Detective Superintendent (SDS) at EFCC in Benin, Mr. Richard Ogberagha, who led a team to the naval base, said: “EFCC will carry out preliminary investigations to determine the evidence of the involvement of the people.”