The Nigerian Navy has arrested 28 crude oil thieves in recent operations to eliminate economic sabotage and other criminal elements within Nigeria's maritime domain.
A statement on Monday by Navy spokesman, Commodore Christian Ezekobe said a patrol team deployed by NNS Jubilee arrested 13 suspects allegedly involved in illegal bunkering activities around Ibeno area of Akwa Ibom State.
He said the suspects were arrested in three Cotonou boats, two of the boats were carrying 55 and 48 drums of suspected illegally refined AGO respectively, while the third Cotonou boat was carrying about 188 empty drums.
He noted that the suspects and exhibits have been handed over to officials of NSCDC for necessary action.
He said another patrol team deployed by Forward Operating Base Escravos has arrested three persons suspected to be oil thieves.
Ezekobe said the team also destroyed six Cotonou boats carrying suspected stolen crude oil around Sandhill Creek in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He added that the team recovered two wooden boats laden with 300 Metric Tones (MT) of stolen crude oil and a pumping machine during the raid.
He also said a patrol team deployed by NNS Pathfinder raided Adokiakiri Creek around Okirika axis and Dutch Island at Onne in Rivers State.
He said during the operation, the team arrested eight suspects and destroyed four speedboats laden with 100 MT of illegally refined AGO.
He said two barges containing 500MT of suspected stolen crude oil were also destroyed by the team.
He added that: "In another raid, the Patrol Team also arrested three suspects onboard MV Omete VI and a large wooden barge laden with about 120MT of illegally refined AGO around FOT Onne in Rivers State."
Ezekobe further said NNS Delta patrol team raided an illegal refinery site at Saba Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
He said during the operation, a suspect was arrested while the illegal refinery site and a Cotonou boat laden with about 82MT of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed in situ.
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