The Nigerian Navy has dismantled a major illegal refining complex in Rivers State, recovering more than 205,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during an intelligence-led operation under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said in a statement yesterday that personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh carried out the operation in the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Council following credible intelligence.

He said the operation led to the discovery and deactivation of three illegal refining sites comprising six refining ovens, three reservoirs and four dugout pits.

According to him, about 38,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and 167,180 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered, bringing the total volume of recovered products to 205,680 litres.

Folorunsho said the operation dealt a significant blow to criminal networks engaged in crude oil theft and illegal refining, noting that the destruction of the refining infrastructure would disrupt illicit production responsible for economic sabotage, environmental degradation and the loss of national revenue.

He added that the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs access to the infrastructure and products used to sustain their operations.

Folorunsho reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of Operation Delta Sentinel through intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling the infrastructure, logistics and supply chains supporting crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.

The Navy also pledged its continued commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and critical oil and gas assets in support of national economic security.