The Nigeria Navy Ship Jubilee (NNS) has arrested five suspects over oil bunkering in Akwa Ibom and seized one vessel ladened with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
It added that the vessel, MT PREYOR 1 was seized on May 18 during anti illegal oil patrol along Uta-Ewa Creek .
The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Majid Ibrahim, revealed this on Tuesday to journalists while handing over the vessel and the suspects to Officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikot Abasi for further investigations and prosecution.
The Commander, who explained that the vessel was filled with unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO, noted that the command would not relent in its fight against maritime crimes and criminality.
He, however, warned persons involving in criminal activities within the coastal waters to look for legitimate means of livelihood or relocate as the command would continue to arrest them and hand them over to relevant security agencies for prosecution.
He also urged the media to sensitise the public on the need to cooperate with the security forces in the fight against all.
“The Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee on anti illegal oil patrol arrested MT PREYOR 1 on May 18, 2020 along Uta-Ewa Creek for suspected illegal oil bunkering activities.
“The vessel was laden with unspecified quantity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) as required by the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure, the suspects, vessel and products are hereby handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution,” Ibrahim said
Receiving the vessel, products and the five suspects on behalf of EFCC, Mr Victor Ikang, Head Extractive Industry, Fraud Section, Uyo Zonal office thanked the Navy for the arrest.
He assured that the commission would investigate the case thoroughly and bring all culprits to book.
