Over 100,000 liters of contaminated diesel were being smuggled in Rivers on eight barges, according to the Joint Task Force’s Operation Delta Safe.
The commander of the Joint Task Force, South-South, OPDS, Real Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, said this on Sunday in Bonny while displaying the captured barges and petroleum products to reporters.
He claimed that security personnel stopped and searched the vehicles carrying contaminated diesel while crossing multiple streams.
According to Ferreira, who was represented by OPDS Maritime Component Commander Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, the seizure was in keeping with the task forces’ directive to eradicate crude oil theft and criminality from the Niger Delta.
The seizures were carried out in accordance with orders granted to OPDS by Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, to ensure the complete eradication of crude oil theft. Following this order, the OPDS intensified its operations and as a result eight barges carrying suspected unlawfully processed automotive gas oil (diesel) were apprehended.
In the Bonny area of Rivers State, he claimed, “the barges cumulatively had over 100,000 litres of diesel stored inside different compartments.”
He stated that no one had been detained but that forces were currently pursuing the captured vessel’s captain and crew.
He continued, “Those engaged in this unlawful activity should watch out for legitimate business to engage in as we will not relent until they are discovered and stopped.