The Nigerian Navy has recovered about 87,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, during an operation against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State.
The recovery was made in the Okarki area under Operation Delta Sentinel, following the discovery of a hidden fuel storage facility believed to have been used for the illegal stockpiling of petroleum products.
The Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh carried out the operation after acting on credible intelligence.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh carried out an anti-crude oil theft operation in the area after receiving credible intelligence, leading to the discovery of a concealed facility used to illegally store petroleum products.
“The hidden facility contained suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and equipment used for its illegal storage and handling. During the operation, about 87,000 litres of the suspected product were recovered and processed in accordance with established operational procedures,” Folorunsho said.
The Navy noted that the discovery highlights the continued efforts of criminal groups to establish secret storage facilities in the Niger Delta to sustain the illegal petroleum products trade.
He explained that dismantling such facilities weakens the network supporting crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage.
According to him, the successful operation reflects the Navy’s determination to stop economic saboteurs from operating freely while protecting critical national assets.
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