Nigerian Navy Seizes Ghanaian Ship Laden With Stolen Oil

Nigerian Navy Seizes Ghanaian Ship Laden With Stolen Oil....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft Operation Delta Sanity has officially reported the interception of the Ghana-owned motor tanker, SWEET MIRI, on suspicions of being involved in crude oil theft.

According to a statement released over the weekend by the NNS Base Information Officer, Lieutenant H Ibrahim, the vessel was apprehended 174 nautical miles from the Nigerian coast, approximately 320 kilometers, while en route to Benin Republic. The SWEET MIRI motor tanker, carrying 13 crew members – one Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians, was flagged down for inspection.

Rear Admiral MB Hassan, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, specified in the statement that the vessel was transporting around two million liters of a suspected product without proper authorization. The incident took a critical turn when, on February 25, 2024, the vessel intentionally deactivated its Automatic Identification System in an attempt to evade detection.

To address the violation, Ship ABA was dispatched to examine the ship, ultimately revealing it was carrying substances believed to be crude oil. Subsequently, NNS Sokoto was deployed to intensify the search and intercept the vessel.

The statement from Lieutenant H Ibrahim reads, “The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, under the strategic leadership of Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, arrested a vessel, Motor Tanker SWEET MIRI, suspected to have been involved in crude oil theft. The vessel had 13 crew members, one Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians.”

He further mentioned that the vessel’s ownership lies with a Ghanaian individual and is registered in Ghana. In an unusual move, the ship is made available for any interested agency seeking samples for independent analysis to verify its involvement.

Under the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, investigations into all detained vessels, including the previously apprehended Motor Tanker VINNALARIS, are to be conducted thoroughly. The focus extends beyond the crew to uncover the masterminds behind such illicit activities.

Rear Admiral MB Hassan also commended the Department of State Services for their collaborative support in investigating cases of crude oil theft. Nigeria is currently grappling with a surge in oil theft and illicit refinery activities across the country, as reported by Naija News.

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