Navy Busts Hidden Oil Theft Depot, Recovers 17,000 Litres in Delta

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed crude oil storage site in the Niger Delta, recovering about 17,000 litres of suspected stolen crude, as part of its ongoing crackdown under Operation Delta Sentinel.

Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta carried out the operation after receiving credible intelligence on suspected oil theft activities around the Ugbokodo Creek area of Delta State.

He said the operation was backed by aerial surveillance, which enabled naval operatives to carry out a thorough search of the area.

According to him, although the location initially appeared clear of suspicious activity, closer observation and analysis of drone footage exposed a freshly dug reservoir that had been deliberately hidden under leaves, planks, wood and dense vegetation to evade detection.

A further search of the site led to the discovery of the approximately 17,000 litres of suspected stolen crude stored in the camouflaged reservoir.

Folorunsho noted that the find underscores the growing sophistication of criminal networks sustaining crude oil theft in the region, adding that combining intelligence-led operations with aerial surveillance has significantly boosted the Navy’s capacity to detect and disrupt such activities.

The recovered crude oil, the storage facility and all associated materials were handled in accordance with standard operational procedures, the Navy said.

It reaffirmed its commitment to sustained operations under Operation Delta Sentinel, aimed at safeguarding critical national assets and curbing crude oil theft through coordinated, intelligence-driven efforts.

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