The Nigerian Navy has recovered about 87,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, during an operation against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State.
The recovery was made in the Okarki area under Operation Delta Sentinel, following the discovery of a concealed fuel storage facility used for the illegal stockpiling of petroleum products.
The Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in Abuja.
According to him, personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh carried out the operation after acting on credible intelligence on illegal petroleum activities in the area.
Folorunsho said the operation led to the discovery of a hidden facility containing suspected illegally refined diesel and equipment used for the illegal storage and handling of petroleum products.
He added that about 87,000 litres of the suspected product were recovered and handled in line with established operational procedures.
The Navy noted that the discovery underscores the continued efforts of criminal networks to establish secret storage facilities across the Niger Delta to sustain the illegal petroleum products trade.
Folorunsho explained that dismantling such facilities weakens the supply chain supporting crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage.
He said the successful operation reflects the Nigerian Navy’s determination to deny economic saboteurs the freedom to operate while protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations and working with other security agencies to combat crude oil theft and safeguard the nation’s maritime domain.
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