Navy arrests two vessels with suspected stolen diesel
AMERCHANT vessel, MV SHIRLEY and Motor Tanker (MT) Vine allegedly laden with 745 metric tons of stolen AGO, popularly known as diesel, have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy.
The vessels, which were arrested along with their 14 crew members by operatives of the Nigeria Navy Ship BEECROFT, were handed over to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
While MT VINE with six crew members was laden with products whose flash point was higher than the specification of the regulatory agencies, MV SHIRLEY with eight crew carried low quality products.
At the handover, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abba, said MT VINE was arrested on June 9, at about 1:30am, on its arrival at SB BAKARE Jetty, Kirikiri, to dis- charge the about 600MT of AGO it was carrying.
He disclosed that the flash point of the product was higher than that specified by DPR and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), adding that the colour of the product was off DPR standard as indicated by lab analysis.
“When the vessel’s haulage was checked, it was discovered that MT VINE was carrying about 600MT of AGO as against the 400MT quan- tity authorized. For MV SHIRLEY, it was arrested around 6:10p.m. on April 19, at Lagos anchorage for allegedly dealing in petroleum products illegally.
“The vessel was laden with about 145MT of AGO without valid documents for carrying petroleum products in Nigerian waters. Samples of the products were taken for laboratory test to ascertain its quality and the result indicated that the sample did not meet DPR/SON specifications, which indicated that it might have been refined illegally. ” he said.
Abbah reiterated that the navy in its renewed efforts to purge maritime domain of illegalities, would not tolerate any fraudulent activities. “The command has zero tolerance for every form of criminality in its area of responsibility. Defaulters are advised to desist from such acts or face the wrath of the law.”