The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, disrupting an emerging illegal oil operation and intercepting a speedboat conveying about 17,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.

The Navy also recovered approximately 24,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and dismantled facilities believed to have been established for crude oil theft in separate operations in the state.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny acted on credible intelligence about attempts by suspected criminals to establish illegal connections to oil infrastructure in the Bethel Community axis of Bonny Local Council.

Folorunsho said the operation led to the discovery of an illegal refining site, two pits containing approximately 24,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and extensive hoses believed to have been installed to facilitate crude oil theft.

He said the intervention disrupted the emerging criminal operation before it became fully operational, denying the suspected economic saboteurs the infrastructure required to sustain their activities and inflict further losses on the nation.

In a separate operation, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER intercepted a speedboat conveying approximately 17,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO along the Onne-Okrika waterways.

According to the statement, the recovered speedboat and suspected illegally refined petroleum product were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, while efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend those connected with the illegal activity.

Folorunsho said the operations demonstrated the Navy’s sustained commitment to disrupting the illicit petroleum supply chain, denying economic saboteurs freedom of action and protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure from criminal exploitation.

He added that the Navy would continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, protect the maritime environment and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.