Navy Seizes 2 Boats With N20.4m Stolen Diesel

  
Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State said it had confiscated two wooden boats used in conveying about 100,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Nigerian Navy Ship, (NNS) Pathfinder’s Base Operations Officer, Comander Ugochukwu Ajulu,who disclosed this to newsmen, said the products is worth N20.4 million. Ajulu also disclosed that three suspects were arrested on board one of the wooden boats. Ajulu said the boats were both seized during troops’ routine patrol of waterways and creeks in the state.

 “In-line with strategic directives from naval authorities, on March 31, our troops on routine patrol impounded two wooden boats carrying suspected illegally refined diesel in quantity of about 100,000 litres. “The first wooden boat transporting about 60 drums fully loaded with suspected stolen diesel was impounded along Bakana waterways with three suspects onboard. “The second boat which had over 100 drums laden with illegally refined diesel was also seized while it anchored at Aiteo Jetty near Abonema. 

“About 5,000 litres of diesel was also stored in a compartment on the boat,” Ajulu added. He said that naval operatives were unable to make any arrest from the second boat as its crew members had fled the scene on sighting advancing naval patrol gunboats. The Commander said preliminary investigation was ongoing to unravel the source and supply chain of the products. According to him, the suspects would be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for further investigation and possible arraignment in court.