The Nigerian Navy has found an illegal storage depot in Rivers State, where it has seized around 11,800 litres of suspected Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) that had been illegally refined, in its latest attempt to stop the theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta.
This was found through Operation DELTA SENTINEL, which is a security operation intended to prevent illegal oil refining and crude oil theft from happening in the region.
In a statement released by the Navy on its official X page, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER team found the depot during a routine mission. It was then established that there were 125 bags of refined diesel at the site.
The Navy claimed that the clandestine site had been serving as a storage location for refined petroleum products before their transportation and distribution. It was characterized as another point of supply for the criminal groups engaged in the illicit fuel business, posing constant danger to the Nigerian oil sector and ecology.
In accordance with the Navy’s procedures related to crude oil theft, the seized products were collected and secured. Authorities reported that such an operation prevented illegal fuel from entering the market and disrupted the activity of criminals who conducted it.
The Navy stressed once more its determination to continue the struggle against the stealing of crude oil and illegal refining since such actions are crucial for the protection of the oil wealth of the country, the environment, and national economic security.
Further, the statement indicated that Operation DELTA SENTINEL would still go on in the Niger Delta area as the security agents step up their operations to discover and destroy illegal refining facilities, apprehend offenders in the oil sector, and frustrate the activities of criminal gangs in the region.
The most recent discovery serves to demonstrate the continuous resolve of the Nigerian Navy in ensuring that illegal oil operations are prevented in order to protect national assets
