A vessel laden with about 800,000 litres of stolen Nigerian crude oil was on Friday intercepted on the country’s territorial waters as it was heading towards Cameroun.
The Vessel, MT TURA II, with International MARITIME Organisation (IMO) registration No. 6620462, and Registration No. RC813311, is said to be owned by HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Garba Deen Muhammad, said following the receipt of credible intelligence about the activities of the vessel, a private security contractor engaged by the way national oil company, Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted its movement.
Muhammad said the suspicious vessel was on its way to Cameroun with the illegal crude oil consignment on board when it was apprehended on July 7, 2023 at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria.
The vessel, he said, had no valid documentation for the vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
“Investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011,” Mr Muhammad said.
Muhammed said details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it concluded to destroy the vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
“Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflict significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the handing of the matter by the NNPC, assuring Nigerians that they would sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.
