The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed illegal fuel storage site in Rivers State, recovering about 11,800 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed illegal fuel storage site containing approximately 11,800 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
The discovery was made by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER during ongoing anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. The development was disclosed in an operational report issued on Friday by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, in Abuja.
According to Folorunsho, the Base Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team confirmed that the hidden facility contained 125 sacks loaded with products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
He said the operation exposed another covert storage location allegedly used by criminal networks to stockpile illegally refined petroleum products before distributing them to buyers.
“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 stated that the recovered products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, thereby denying economic saboteurs another logistics base for illegal petroleum activities.
He added that the successful operation demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to identify and dismantle facilities supporting crude oil theft and illegal refining operations.
According to him, by targeting concealed storage sites and disrupting supply chains, the Navy continues to weaken the operational capacity of criminal syndicates while protecting Nigeria’s strategic economic assets.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to combat crude oil theft, disrupt illegal petroleum distribution networks and safeguard the nation’s maritime environment.
Editor’s Note: The body of the official statement says 11,800 litres of AGO were recovered, although the headline provided states 18,000 litres. This report reflects the figure contained in the official operational report.
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