Personnel of the Nigerian Navy yesterday in Oteghale Community,
Warri-south local government area of Delta State, uncovered crude oil
thieves hideouts and arrested 16 suspects.
Confirming the arrest of the suspects, Rear Admiral Augustine
Suleman, Flag Officer, Commanding, Central Naval Command, said the
arrest of the suspects was made possible by a tip-off.
He said navy personnel discovered a tap on the trans forcados
pipeline, fixed six inches valve that enables crude oil thieves access
to Nigerian crude unhindered.
He said: “A trip to the site revealed drums of over 8,000 tonnes that
have come from those involved in the illegal trade,” disclosing that
the Nigerian government has lost billions of dollars to the suspected
thieves.
Real Admiral Suleman said that the operatives realized that the
Cotonou boats were not available and the illegal refineries no longer
existed with the impunity that it used to be as the mother ships were
arrested.
According to him, “what they are doing now is to connect pipes on
this export line and they key the pipes on this export line and lay the
pipes as far as two kilometers off shore and they load directly from
there,” adding that the navy has discovered their tricks and the
perpetrators of the illegality.
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