$300m Oil Scam Exposed: Nigerian Military Intercepts Illegal Crude-Laden Vessels At Sea

The Joint Task Force (JTF) South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has intercepted vessels suspected of transporting large quantities of illegally sourced crude oil.

According to reports made available to Naija News, the seized crude is estimated to be worth about $300 million.

The operation forms part of intensified efforts to curb illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, where security agencies have recently recorded increased raids on illicit refineries and seizures of stolen petroleum products.

Authorities are currently profiling the intercepted vessels and suspects to trace the origin of the cargo and determine those responsible.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has announced the recovery of about 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products across 183 operations conducted in its key operational areas during the first quarter of 2026. The operations also led to the arrest of 18 suspects linked to crude oil theft and maritime crimes.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.

He noted that February recorded the highest recovery volume with 360,700 litres, followed by January with 118,800 litres and March with 52,000 litres, reflecting sustained enforcement against illegal oil activities.

According to him, several targeted operations led to significant recoveries, including the seizure of 45,000 litres of stolen products in Rivers State, interception of an 18-tonne barge, discovery of a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead in Bayelsa State, and recovery of 34,000 litres of petroleum products in separate raids.

He added that additional operations across areas such as Warri South-West, Oteghele Creek, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alakiri River, and the Ogbia/Egbema/Ndoni axis resulted in further seizures of crude oil and refined products.

The Navy also confirmed the dismantling of multiple illegal oil facilities during the period, including refinery sites, storage depots, vessels, and pipeline connections, in a continued crackdown on oil theft networks.