Navy Intercepts Vessel With Stolen Crude, Arrests 12 Crew Members

The Nigerian Navy has intercepted an oil tanker accused of carrying stolen crude oil and arrested 12 crew members.

The vessel, MT FILIA, was arrested on July 23 within Nigerian waters after surveillance by the Eastern Naval Command. Navy officials said the tanker was carrying about 650 metric tonnes of crude oil valued at more than ₦660 million.

Commodore Abubakar Umar, the command operations officer, said preliminary checks showed the São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged vessel had stayed around offshore oil terminals in Akwa Ibom for more than seven days before it was stopped.

Punch reported that the arrest was made under Operation Delta Sentinel. Premium Times also reported that the vessel and crew were presented during a briefing in Calabar on Tuesday.

The Navy said the case forms part of its renewed operations against crude oil theft in the maritime domain.

Sources: Punch, Premium Times