*Arrests 13 crew members, Ghanaian, 12 Nigerians
By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Officers of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft under the strategic leadership of Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga and Maritime Component Commander Operation AWATSE have intercepted a Ghanaian vessel loaded with crude oil suspected to be stolen product.
Thirteen crew members, a Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians were said to be on board the ship named Motor Tanker Sweeter MIRI at the time of the interception.
The Base Information Officer NNS BEECROFT Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim made the disclosure in a statement over the weekend.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan stated that the vessel has been a vessel of interest to the Nigerian Navy and she is being arrested on suspicion of crude oil theft.
According to the statement, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan stated that the vessel has been a vessel of interest to the Nigerian Navy and she is being arrested on suspicion of crude oil theft.
This, he said necessitated the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship ABA to investigate the vessel adding that 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,” said.
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.
The FOC also said that the vessel is owned by a Ghanaian and registered in Ghana by a Ghanaian company.
He added that, on 25 February 2024, the vessel was observed to have switched off its Automatic Identification System to avoid detection. The vessel was arrested 174 nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria, approximately 320 kilometers, heading to Benin
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.
