- The interception occurred 174 nautical miles off the Nigerian coast, approximately 320 kilometers, en route to Benin Republic
The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, conducting Operation Delta Sanity, intercepted the vessel Motor Tanker SWEET MIRI, suspected of involvement in crude oil theft.
The vessel, with 13 crew members (one Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians), was a subject of interest to the Navy. Rear Admiral MB Hassan, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC),
Western Naval Command, reported the arrest during a briefing onboard, highlighting the vessel’s suspicious activities, including switching off its Automatic Identification System on 25 February 2024. The interception occurred 174 nautical miles off the Nigerian coast, approximately 320 kilometers, en route to Benin Republic.
“This necessitated the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship ABA to investigate the vessel. Subsequently, she was found carrying products suspected to be crude oil. Thereafter, NNS SOKOTO was deployed to double up the search and interdict the vessel. On arrival, it was discovered that she was carrying about 2 million liters of suspected product without approval.
“The FOC further disclosed that, in line with the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, the ship is opened for other agencies to come and take samples and carry out their own independent investigations to find out the culpability of the vessel. Also speaking, the FOC said that, the vessel is owned by a Ghanian and registered in Ghana by a Ghanian company.
“In the same vein, while giving update on the earlier arrested Motor Tanker VINNALARIS, the FOC said that, the CNS has instructed that the investigations of all arrested vessels should be conducted beyond the level of crew. In this regard, the FOC has extended the investigation to uncover the kingpins. He finally appreciated the efforts of DSS for assisting the Nigerian Navy in conducting investigations when matters of crude oil theft are brought to them,” the release by Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, the Base Information Officer, read.
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