The service also said a total of 703 illegal refining sites, 690 Cotonou boats laden with stolen crude, and 116 speed boats were destroyed by operatives of the Nigerian Navy.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “I am delighted to report that between January and December 2023, the NN destroyed 703 illegal refining sites and arrested 5 barges, 690 cotonou boats laden with stolen crude, 116 speed boats as well as 232 suspects engaged in COT. During the period, 82 vehicles/trucks and 23 vessels were also arrested. Among the vessels arrested include MT Marine Express; MT Cecilia, MT Ufuoma, MT Vigor I, MV Barge Ayeba Eneni; FT Lamu I, and MT Vinnalaris I Lagos among others.
“Arising from these, 46, 369,219 ltrs of AGO, 2,472,200 ltrs of DPK and 438, 886 ltrs of PMS were recovered. Similarly, the NN recovered 803, 353.20 bbls of crude oil. At current market values, the seizures made translate to about N105bn.”
Ogalla also said the Navy recovered 692 bags of cannabis worth N1.38bn
He said, “Additionally the NN has been active in the fight against illicit-drugs trafficking especially within the maritime domain. Between April and November 2023, the NN arrested 692 bags of Cannabis Sativa, worth about One Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand Naira. The products have since been handed over to the NDLEA as required by law.”
