The Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has intercepted three vessels laden with suspected stolen crude oil valued at over N4.2 billion in Calabar.

Commander of the task force, Olugbenga Oladipo, disclosed this while briefing journalists at NNS Victory, Calabar, on Saturday.

He said the operation began on the night of Wednesday, April 8, at about 11:45 p.m., when OPDS troops, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted two vessels—MT Mkpodu and MT Westaf—within the Calabar/Akwa Ibom maritime area.

According to him, the vessels were suspected to be involved in crude oil theft and were apprehended at a wellhead within the Joint Operations Area.

Oladipo said the two vessels had a combined crew of 26 members on board at the time of arrest.

“Motor Tanker Mkpodu was intercepted in the process of siphoning crude oil and was found laden with an estimated 480 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude.

“Motor Tanker Westaf, on the other hand, had about 459 metric tonnes of suspected crude oil onboard at the time of arrest,” he said.

He added that following the interception, naval and air assets, including NNS Shere, NNS Ose, and a Nigerian Air Force helicopter, were deployed to support the operation.

“The helicopter provided real-time aerial surveillance, while naval platforms secured the vessels offshore and facilitated their transfer, along with the crew, to the naval jetty in Calabar,” he explained.

The commander further revealed that subsequent intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of a third vessel, MT Stellos K, by NNS Gongola on April 10, for similar alleged crude oil theft activities.

He noted that the arrests highlight the commitment of the Defence Headquarters and the Nigerian Navy to tackling crude oil theft through inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-driven operations.

The suspects were later paraded at the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar.

Oladipo reaffirmed the task force’s resolve to combat crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage, as well as to secure oil and gas infrastructure within the Joint Operations Area.

Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Chidozie Okehie, said the command is currently tracking three additional suspected vessels linked to illegal activities in the region. (Daily Trust)

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