The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft uncovered an illegal fuel depot holding approximately 65,000 litres of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) in Lagos on Tuesday.
Among the arrested suspects at No. 3 Silverbird Road, Ilasun Lekki, was Mr Ahmed Ariyo, the syndicate leader, and four others found in a private apartment where they conducted their illicit operations.
Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo, the Commander of NNS Beecroft, briefed journalists in Lagos, stating that credible intelligence led to the discovery of suspicious activities at Elegushi Beach, prompting the deployment of NNS Beecroft Quick Response Team.
The illegal fuel depot comprised eight storage tanks, each with a capacity of 50,000 litres, containing approximately 57,000 litres of AGO, alongside a tanker and a bus with jerry cans totaling about 1,500 litres. Based on the current price of AGO at ₦1,350 per litre, the estimated value of the seized products is approximately N89 million.
Oladejo noted that if filled, the storage facility’s eight tanks would hold about 400,000 litres of AGO, valued at approximately N500 million. Preliminary investigations suggested that the suspects obtained the products through pipeline vandalism, illegal vendors at sea, and other illicit means along the coastline.
Oladejo reaffirmed NNS Beecroft’s dedication to combatting oil theft and other criminal activities in line with directives from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu, assuring law-abiding citizens of the navy’s commitment to ensuring a secure maritime environment conducive to socioeconomic activities in Lagos.
The Commander thereafter handed over the suspects, products and the facility to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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