14 suspected oil smugglers arrested by Nigerian Navy in Rivers
The Operatives of the Nigerian Navy have arrested 14 suspects for allegedly bringing in contraband Black Oil and Adulterated diesel to an unidentified purchaser in River state.
Capt. Samuel Garba, the Executive Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, told NAN on Monday in Portharcourt that the suspects were arrested while his security team were carrying out their raid in a suspected site around Rumuolumeni, Eleme and Marine Base area of the state.
The navy boss also added that nine suspects were arrested on the 16th of September during a raid at Marine base.
Garba said, “In the first raid on September 16 at Holy Kings Waterfront at Marine Base, our patrol team arrested nine suspects while trans-loading petroleum product.
“They were caught lifting substances believed to be stolen crude oil from eight wooden boats to six trucks stationed within a yard at the waterfront.
“In addition, a Sports Utility Vehicle stacked with the sum of N1.95m belonging to one of the suspects was confiscated.”
He further added that the other suspects were arrested on the 26th of September while they were discharging ‘black oil’.
“The third raid was conducted on September 27 around Sand Fill at Eleme. There, we caught four suspects discharging substances suspected to be black oil.
“The suspects were discharging the petroleum product into two 33,000 litres capacity truck stationed nearby before their arrest and seizure of the product.”
Capt. Garba finally said the 14 suspects have been handed over to the operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, for further investigations.
