The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in its ongoing fight against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering with the interception of two wooden boats conveying about 15,500 litres of petroleum products suspected to have been illegally obtained in Rivers State.

The operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, took place within the Okrika waterways following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected stolen petroleum products in the area.

According to a statement yesterday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was executed by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER as part of sustained efforts to curb economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

According to the statement, the Navy’s Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team intercepted the first wooden boat during a night patrol after suspected oil thieves abandoned the vessel and fled into the surrounding creeks on sighting the naval patrol.

A search of the boat led to the discovery of several sacks containing about 12,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.

The patrol was immediately extended to adjoining waterways, where naval personnel intercepted a second wooden boat carrying 10 drums and seven 50-litre jerrycans loaded with about 3,500 litres of product suspected to be siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The Navy said the successful interceptions highlight the continued use of inland waterways and hidden creek routes by criminal syndicates to transport illegally acquired petroleum products.

It noted that by targeting these movement corridors, the Nigerian Navy is disrupting the logistics network that sustains crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta.

“The recovered boats and petroleum products have been secured and handled in line with established operational procedures, while surveillance of the area has been intensified to identify other routes and networks supporting the illicit trade,” the statement said.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, stressing that it would continue to protect Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure, secure the nation’s maritime domain and deny economic saboteurs the freedom to operate within the country’s waterways.

The latest seizure adds to a series of recent successes recorded by the Nigerian Navy in its intensified crackdown on crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta. Authorities say the operations are aimed at safeguarding national assets, boosting oil production and curbing the activities of criminal elements exploiting the region’s waterways for illegal petroleum trade.