The Nigerian Navy has intercepted two vessels, MT Mkpodu and MT Westaf AF loaded with over 939 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil valued at more than N4 billion.
A total of 26 crew members were also taken into custody during the operation, according to a briefing in Calabar by Rear Adm. Olugbenga Oladipo, Commander of the Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe.
He explained that the successful operation highlights ongoing efforts to tackle crude oil theft and other economic crimes in Nigeria’s waters.
The vessels were reportedly tracked and intercepted around midnight on April 8 following actionable intelligence, while actively siphoning crude at a wellhead within the Calabar/Akwa Ibom operational zone.
Oladipo noted that MT Mkpodu was caught in the process of extracting crude oil at the time of the raid.
According to him, the operation was carried out with support from the offices of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Defence Staff.
“The Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff provided us with all the necessary assets we used in carrying out this operation.
“Following the arrest, Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE and Nigerian Navy 410 Helicopter were deployed to the scene.
“The helicopter provided real time aerial imagery of the vessels while Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE took custody of the 2 vessels at the offshore location.”
He added that the vessels and their crew were later transferred to the Navy jetty in Calabar with support from other naval units.
The Navy also confirmed the arrest of another vessel, MT Steliosk, on April 10, reinforcing its crackdown on oil theft.
