Navy discovers illegal fuel storage site, recovers 18,000ltrs of AGO in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed fuel storage site containing approximately 11,800 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil(AGO) in Rivers.

This is contained in an operational report by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, on Friday in Abuja.

According to Folorunsho, the discovery was made by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL during the ongoing operations against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering within its area of operation.

“Acting on the discovery, the Base Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team confirmed that the concealed site contained 125 sacks laden with products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

“The operation exposed another covert storage point believed to have been used to stockpile illegally refined petroleum products pending onward distribution.

“This highlights the continued efforts of criminal networks to sustain illicit fuel trade within the Niger Delta,” he said.

Folorunsho said that the recovered products were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs another logistics nod supporting illegal petroleum activities.

According to him, the successful operation underscored the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to identify and dismantle the infrastructure that enabled crude oil theft and illegal refining.

He said that by targeting concealed storage locations and disrupting supply networks, the Service continues to degrade the operational capacity of criminal syndicates while safeguarding Nigeria’s critical economic assets.

He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to combat crude oil theft, disrupt illicit petroleum distribution networks and protect the nation’s maritime environment.
NAN