The Nigerian Navy has recovered about 1,600 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during an operation in Rivers State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho.
According to the statement, the recovery was made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH following intelligence reports on illegal refining activities.
The operation reportedly took place at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area near the Rivers-Bayelsa border.
Folorunsho explained that naval operatives deployed to the Orashi Forest area used aerial surveillance technology to detect concealed sacks believed to contain illegally refined diesel.
“16 sacks containing about 100 litres each, totalling approximately 1,600 litres of the product” were recovered during the operation, he said.
The Navy added that suspects fled the area upon sighting security personnel, while the seized products were handled according to operational procedures.
The operation, according to the Navy, forms part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and dismantle illegal refining networks in the Niger Delta.
