Personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, in collaboration with operatives of the NDLEA, raided illicit drug spots in parts of Warri, Delta State, denying criminal elements the freedom to traffic and distribute illicit substances.

The joint team raided Urchie, Uvwiamuge, Orthokpor, and Usiefrun axis of Warri, arresting one suspect and seizing various illicit substances, including Molly, Cannabis, and Skuruchi.

Naval Spokesman, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, stated that the successful operation underscores the strong collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and the NDLEA in addressing the nexus between illicit drug trafficking and other forms of criminality that threaten public safety and national security.

Folorunsho reaffirmed the Service commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at denying criminal elements the operating space to engage in activities that undermine peace, security, and lawful economic activities within its area of responsibility.

Meanwhile, the Navy has pre-empted another attempt by crude oil theft syndicates to establish illegal storage infrastructure within the Bonny axis of Rivers State.

Folorunsho said that a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around Dema Abbey Community in Bonny Local Government Area by personnel of Forward Operation Base (FOB), Bonny, led to the discovery of seven concealed dugout pits strategically established within the area.

He said preliminary assessment revealed that four of the dugout pits had been freshly excavated, while three contained water, indicating preparations to support crude oil theft activities.

“The discovery is consistent with recent operations in which similar concealed pits were found to have been used as temporary storage facilities for stolen crude oil prior to transportation to illegal refining sites.”

According to him, the newly excavated pits were subsequently dismantled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying criminal elements the infrastructure required to establish another crude oil storage hub within the Bonny operational area.

He stated that the operation reflects the Nigerian Navy’s proactive operational strategy of disrupting crude oil theft at its preparatory stage by targeting the infrastructure that enables illicit activities before it becomes functional, adding that the preventive approach continues to weaken the logistics chain sustaining crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.

The Navy had recovered 39,500 litres of stolen crude oil around Okpokiri Community within Bonny.

Folorunsho had explained that the Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team deployed to the community uncovered suspicious dugout pits concealed within the creek environment, prompting a detailed ground assessment by the patrol team.

“The operation led to the discovery of four dugout pits comprising one large and three medium-sized pits. Three of the pits contained an estimated cumulative volume of 39,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, while the fourth pit was found filled with water,” he had said.

The discovery, he had said, highlighted the continued use of concealed storage facilities by crude oil theft syndicates to stockpile stolen crude pending evacuation through illegal distribution channels.