The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta region, code-named Operation Pulo Shield, on Wednesday said it had arrested three foreigners and 30 Nigerians over allegations bordering on oil theft.
The Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, named the foreigners as two Ghanaians and a Togolese.
Nwachukwu, in a statement made available to our correspondent in Yenagoa, said the suspects were arrested on board two vessels, MV GIFT and MV TiGER FISH.
He said the operatives of the outfit also seized the vessels during multiple raids they conducted along the Federal Ocean Terminal Onne, Rivers State.
He said the raids lasted 19 days, adding that the arrested vessels had been secured at the 2nd Brigade Nigerian Army, Gunboat Company, Onne.
“Meanwhile, the suspects and samples of the products have been handed over to authorities of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Rivers State for further investigation and prosecution”, he said.
Also, Nwachukwu said JTF intercepted 10 barges laden with illegal peroleum products along Delta and Bayelsa states waterways.
He said over 143 illegal refineries discovered by the operatives along Obi Ayagbo, Otu Jeremi, Gbekebor, Esere, Ajugbo, Tigbubeni and Igbamatoru were destroyed in situ.
He added, “Patrol troops of the JTF have also arrested eight trucks conveying suspected illegal petroleum products along Akim Akim village in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State and Abudu pump station along Sapele road of Edo State, while 70 Cotonu boats and 214 storage tanks caught indulged in oil theft related activities.”
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