The Nigerian Navy has intercepted a vessel and arrested 12 crew members over alleged involvement in crude oil theft during an operation in Akwa Ibom State.
The interception was carried out in the early hours of July 23 under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following intelligence gathered through the Navy’s surveillance systems and sustained monitoring of activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
In a statement, the Navy’s Director of Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said naval personnel intercepted the vessel, MT FILIA, at the UTUE Terminal while it was allegedly siphoning crude oil from an oil well terminal jacket.
According to the Navy, preliminary investigations revealed that the vessel was carrying approximately 650 metric tonnes of crude oil and 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil without the necessary documentation or lawful authorization.
The vessel, its 12-member crew, and the recovered petroleum products have since been taken into custody for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with existing laws.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance, reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to combating crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other maritime crimes.
He noted that Operation DELTA SENTINEL continues to record significant successes through intelligence-driven operations, surveillance, and collaboration with other security agencies.
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The Navy disclosed that between April and June 2026, the operation led to the recovery of more than 4.7 million litres of petroleum products, the dismantling of 58 illegal refining sites, the destruction of 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, and the arrest of over 91 suspects linked to crude oil theft.
The service added that the sustained crackdown has contributed to the increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production, which reached 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, exceeding the country’s OPEC production quota.
The Navy urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to support ongoing efforts to curb crude oil theft and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime resources.
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