Naval Troops Impound 165 Rice Bags, 45 Drums of PMS
The patrol team of Forward Operating Base Ibaka have arrested two suspected smugglers and two small-size wooden boats laden with 165 bags of 50kg parboiled foreign rice, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said.
The troops, according to the DHQ, intercepted both the criminals and food items, suspected to be smuggled from Cameroon, while on a routine patrol around Utan Inyata Creek in Akwa Ibom State.
Maj. Gen. John Enenche, who made this known at a media update on Friday, said the items and suspects are currently in custody of the Base, and will be handed over to Nigeria Customs Service Component of Operation Swift Response for further action.
Enenche, Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (DHQ), equally disclosed that the same patrol team of Forward Operating Base Ibaka arrested five suspects with 45 drums of products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He said troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued with the aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the South South, with attendant successes.
According to him, the patrol team of Forward Operating Base Bonny, acting on credible intelligence on 13 September 2020, immobilized an illegal refinery containing tanks filled with about 307,300 litres of illegally refined AGO, at Orutoro fishing camp in Rivers State.
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“On same day, Nigerian Navy Ship Delta patrol team dismantled a reactivated illegal refinery containing tanks filled with about 595,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Banga Community in Delta State,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Enenche, further disclosed that the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder patrol team located and immobilized an illegal refining site at Mudukiri Creek, Degema Local Government Area.
He noted that the site had a metal reservoir laden with an estimated 150,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
He said the Forward Operating Base Bonny patrol team also discovered and dismantled an illegal refining site in Ataba, Andoni LGA.
“The team discovered 8 metal storage tanks and 4 dugout pits laden with about 1,289.45 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
“Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee clearance operation team acting on credible intelligence on a suspected pirates and sea robber’s camp at Otoyo, Akwa-Ibom State, raided the camp.
“The patrol team came under fire. However, the overwhelming fire power of own personnel led to the forceful withdrawal of the pirates leading to their dislodgement and deactivation of the camp.
“The team recovered one AK-47 rifle with 2 magazines, 2 Pump Action Rifles, 20 rounds of 7.62 and 39mm ammunition, one Fishing Gun, one Tecno phone, a bag of hard drugs, one diving face mask and one hand held metal detector,” added the DMO Coordinator.
