A significant blow has been dealt to illegal fuel trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea as the Nigerian Navy has successfully intercepted a vessel carrying approximately 2 million liters of suspected stolen fuel to Benin Republic.
The operation, executed by the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft under Operation Delta Sanity, highlights the ongoing efforts to curb the menace of crude oil theft affecting the region.
The vessel which is identified as Motor Tanker SWEET MIRI, was apprehended with a multinational crew comprising one Ghanaian and twelve Nigerians.
Flag Officer of the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan, detailed the operation during a press briefing onboard the captured vessel.
Rear Admiral Hassan revealed that the SWEET MIRI had been under surveillance for its suspicious activities and was notably observed to have deactivated its Automatic Identification System (AIS) on February 25, 2024, a common tactic employed by vessels involved in illicit activities to evade detection.
The decisive action to intercept the vessel was made as it navigated 174 nautical miles off the Nigerian coast, roughly 320 kilometers, in the direction of Benin Republic.
The interception was executed in stages, with NNS ABA initially deployed to trail and investigate the SWEET MIRI, thus leading to the discovery of the illicit cargo. The operation was intensified with the deployment of NNS SOKOTO, which confirmed that the vessel was transporting about 2 million liters of a product suspected to be crude oil without the necessary approvals.
The arrest of the crew and the seizure of the vessel mark a crucial victory for the Nigerian Navy in its relentless campaign against the illegal oil trade that has long plagued Nigeria and its economy.
The incident underscores the sophisticated measures being adopted by the navy to combat maritime crimes and the importance of international cooperation in tackling these transnational criminal activities.
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Further investigations are underway to ascertain the full extent of the operation and the ultimate destination of the stolen fuel. The Nigerian authorities have also emphasized their commitment to prosecuting those involved to the fullest extent of the law, signaling a stern warning to others engaged in similar criminal activities.
