CRUDE OIL THEFT: AN OIL VESSEL CARRYING 17 CREW MEMBERS IS CAPTURED BY THE NIGERIAN NAVY

Babatunji Wusu –

The MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, a 77-meter-long motor tanker engaged in crude oil theft, was successfully arrested, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Snagged illicitly siphoning crude oil from a wellhead at the EBESAN oil field, around 7 nautical miles off the Awoye riverine hamlet in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, the vessel, carrying 17 workers, was found.

In a statement from Abuja, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said that the base’s receipt of reliable information on the unlawful actions of local crude oil thieves was what led to the vessel’s arrest. The effective interception of the vessel and her crew was made possible by the prompt deployment of FOB Igbokoda soldiers.

Notably, the two boats attached to the vessel retreated when the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS and saw the navy officers, confirming the vessel’s role in illicit activity.

In light of this, it was found that the vessel was actively engaged in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the wellhead when it arrived at the site.

“Therefore, it was further established that the vessel had 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality on board,” he claimed after more searching and questioning.

According to Ayo-Vaughan, the captured ship, MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, had 500 metric tons of crude oil loaded at the time of arrest and a storage capacity of almost 15,000 metric tonnes.

Underscoring the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to stop illicit operations and the theft of crude oil in Nigeria’s maritime area, he emphasized that the arrest is evidence of this commitment.

Ayo-Vaughan issued a strong warning, announcing that the Nigerian Navy will use all legal resources at its disposal to find and capture those engaged in illicit operations in Nigeria’s marine environment.

In this statement, the Navy reaffirms its commitment to upholding maritime security and stopping illegal activity in the country’s waterways.