The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT has arrested a vessel, Motor Tanker SWEET MIRI, suspected to have been involved in crude oil theft.
The vessel is owned by a Ghanaian and registered in Ghana by a Ghanian company.
While disclosing the arrest of the vessel with 13 crew, comprising one Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians, in Lagos on Saturday, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan who briefed the press onboard the vessel, said she was carrying about 2 million litres of suspected product without approval.
He stated that the vessel has been of interest to the Nigerian Navy as she was suspected to be engaging in crude oil theft.
Explaining how the vessel was arrested, Rear Admiral Hassan further added that, on 25th February 2024, the vessel was observed to have switched off its Automatic Identification System to avoid detection.
As a result, the vessel was arrested 174 nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria, approximately 320 kilometers, heading to Benin Republic.
Based on her suspicious movement, the Nigerian Navy Ship ABA was deployed to investigate the vessel. Subsequently, she was found carrying products suspected to be crude oil.
“Thereafter, NNS SOKOTO was deployed to complement the search and interdict the vessel. On arrival, it was discovered that she was carrying about 2 million litres of suspected product without approval.”
Meanwhile, the FOC added that, in line with the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the ship is opened for other agencies to come and take samples and carry out their own independent investigations to find out the culpability of the vessel.
In the same vein, while giving update on the earlier arrested Motor Tanker VINNALARIS, the FOC said that, the CNS has instructed that the investigations of all arrested vessels should be conducted beyond the level of crew.
In this regard, the FOC has extended the investigation to uncover the kingpins.
Operation Delta Sanity operating under the strategic leadership of Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga and Maritime Component Commander Operation AWATSE, arrested the vessel.
Rear Admiral Hassan appreciated the efforts of DSS for assisting the Nigerian Navy in conducting investigations when matters of crude oil theft are brought to them.
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