Nigerian Navy apprehends vessel and 17-member crew with 500 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil near Ondo State's Igbokoda.
The crew was found illegally siphoning crude oil from the EBESAN oil field, raising concerns about ongoing oil theft activities.
The vessel, identified as MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, was spotted on Wednesday and subsequently arrested in a swift operation early Thursday.
The 77-meter-long Motor Tanker had loaded approximately 3,665 barrels of crude oil at the time of arrest.
The Nigerian Navy's action reflects its commitment to combatting crude oil theft, warning criminals and seeking public cooperation to report illegal activities in maritime environments. Additionally, there are suspicions of Tantita Security Service (TSS) involvement, with the Navy dismissing false alarms raised by TSS after the arrest.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by oil theft in Nigeria's maritime domain and the Navy's determination to address such illegalities for national economic development.
