The Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso has handed over a motor fishing trawler, Trade Wind, and 13 crew members to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged illegal bunkering in Bayelsa.
The Commanding Officer, FOB Formoso, Capt. Muritala Rogo, said Trade Wind was arrested on February 7, around Brass offshore, for allegedly receiving about 40,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, around FishTown River on February 5.
He said the illegal products were subsequently supplied to other vessels at sea, and upon arrest, samples were collected from the product onboard, tested, and confirmed to be illegally refined.
The commanding officer said it was an act of economic sabotage, which would not be tolerated by the Nigerian Navy. He added that the Navy will not relent in its effort towards policing and enforcement of all maritime laws, to get rid of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other crimes in the Nigerian maritime domain.
Rogo, who was represented by the Base Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Haruna Ranga, at the handing over, advised all fishing trawlers to obtain bunker approval from appropriate naval authorities and purchase their products from approved sources.
He said the Federal Department of Fisheries must, through the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association, warn all fishing trawlers to desist from buying illegally refined AGO from the creeks, and also stop using fishing trawlers to aid illegalities at sea.
He said Operation Delta Sanity, under the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral S.J Bura, is determined to end the menace of crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, and criminality within Nigerian waters.
