Navy Uncovers 182,000 Litres Of Suspected Stolen Crude In Rivers

The Nigerian Navy says it has uncovered about 182,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil in Bethel Creeks, Rivers State.

The discovery was made on Tuesday by personnel of the Forward Operating Base Bonny during a follow-up operation based on information about suspicious activities in the area.

The operation led to the discovery of eight dugout pits, five of which contained the suspected stolen crude oil, while the remaining three were empty, the Navy said.

Hoses believed to have been used to move crude oil were also found at the site and handled in line with established procedures.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Folorunsho said “the latest discovery came about two weeks after the base uncovered approximately 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at four newly activated illegal refining sites around Aworkiri on September 8”.

He said the earlier operation also uncovered 19 dugout pits and other infrastructure allegedly intended for the storage and handling of stolen crude oil.

The Navy said the latest operation was aimed at preventing oil thieves from re-establishing activities in the area by denying them access to sites used to store and move stolen crude oil.