Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe operating in the Niger Delta, has arrested 17 suspects and impounded two vessels laden with over 500,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil popularly known as diesel.
According to OPDS, the vessel, MV King James was caught with 400,000 litres of AGO, while MV Messiah 1, was caught with 100,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, as both of them were intercepted at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Speaking, the Commander, Naval Component of OPDS, Rear Admiral John Okeke, said the petroleum product was seized by troops of the JTF, and handed to the Nigerian Navy Pathfinder.
Okeke assured that the 17 arrested suspects would be handed over to appropriate authorities for possible prosecution.
He said that the vessels have no naval approval and no legitimate documents to allow her to carry products.
“The OPDS which I represent for the Navy is the statutory agency for oil approvals, it means that when a vessel is found without a requisite document it has defaulted,” he said.
Hr enjoined those indulging in oil theft, illegal refining and illegalities to stop and to look for legitimate businesses to do or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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