Nigerian Navy uncovers hidden illegal fuel depot, recovers 11,800 litres of oil in Rivers

Nigerian Navy says it has uncovered a hidden illegal fuel storage depot containing about 11,800 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, in Rivers State.

The Navy disclosed this in a statement posted on its X account on Sunday, saying the discovery was made during the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL, a crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.

According to the statement, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, PATHFINDER discovered the concealed storage site, after which the Base Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team confirmed the presence of 125 sacks containing products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

The Navy said the site was believed to have served as a stockpile for illegally refined petroleum products awaiting distribution, describing it as another logistics hub used by criminal networks involved in illicit fuel trading.

It added that the recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, preventing the products from being distributed.

The Navy said the operation underscored its continued efforts to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining and oil bunkering across the Niger Delta.