Navy Arrests Suspects With Stolen Crude Oil Worth ₦32m In Akwa Ibom

In Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, has detained three suspected oil thieves who were carrying a boat carrying 32 million dollars worth of crude oil.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Akwa Ibom Command, received this information on Thursday at Ibaka from the base’s commanding officer, Captain Uche Aneke, who handed the suspects over and seized items.

Following an intelligence report on the activities of suspected criminals involved in crude oil theft in the Navy’s area of operations, Aneke reported that the suspects were detained on Tuesday, around 9:00 am.

READ ALSO: Troops Arrest Suspected Oil Thieves, Recover Arms, Stolen Crude Products In Niger Delta

The Tantita team detained and interrogated the suspected criminals with a wooden boat loaded with about 60 000 litres of crude oil that was later discovered to be stolen, thanks to FOB Ibaka’s assistance.

Outboard engines and a pumping machine were other items that the suspects recovered.

“Notably, at the time of arrest, the wooden boat had a total of three crew members (all Nigerians).

According to Aneke, “The vessel was discovered to have 11 Geepee tanks that were loaded with about 60 000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil,” the tanker was overloaded from an offshore Ibeno in Akwa Ibom.

He urged anyone or organizations who intended to commit any kind of criminal activity in Nigerian waters or smuggle illegal cargo into or out of those waters to stop immediately.

Source: Channels TV