Oil Theft: Navy Arrests 76, Seizes Five Vessels

The Nigerian Navy says it has impounded five vessels and two metallic barges illegally transporting 1,690 metric tons of diesel, in an operation in Rivers.
Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Victor Adedipe, said yesterday that the command had handed over the vessels, barges and 76 suspects to prosecuting security agencies in Onne, Rivers.
The 76 all-male crew members on board the vessels were received by operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Adedipe said the vessels: MT Anino, MT Rockfish, MT Blessed, MT Mona I, and MT Leadership were seized at different locations in the state.
The commander said troops on routine patrol caught MT Anino towing a barge with undisclosed quantity of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.
“On May 29, MT Anino was caught in the act operating side-by-side with a barge which was filled up with undisclosed quantity of petroleum product suspected to be stolen.
“No fewer than 26 all-male crew members who were on board the vessel were detained,” he said.
Adedipe said that troops on March 24 impounded MT Rockfish with 70 metric tons of diesel while MT Blessed laden with about 880 metric tons of diesel was seized on March 31.
He disclosed that MT Mona I was caught on April 20 with 740 tons of diesel while MT Leadership was caught towing a barge with undisclosed quantity of product believed to be diesel.
When you are cleared, you are cleared,  but we find is that hardly does anyone of them step down, it is wrong,” he said.