The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso, Brass, Bayelsa, has handed over Motor Fishing Trawler (MFT) Trade Wind and its 13 crew members to the Economic Financial and Crime Commission over alleged illegal bunkering.
The Commanding Officer of FOB Formoso, Capt. Muritala Rogo, made the disclosure on Thursday in Bayelsa.
Rogo was represented by the Base Operations Officer, Lt.- Comander. Haruna Ranga,
He that MFT Trade Wind was arrested on Feb. 7, around Brass offshore for allegedly receiving about 40,000 litres of illegally refined diesel.
He said that the vessel received the diesel around Fish Town River on Feb. 5, adding that it subsequently supplied the product to other vessels at sea.
According to the commanding officer, upon arrest of the vessel, samples were collected from the product onboard and were tested and confirmed to be illegally refined diesel.
He described it as economic sabotage which would not be tolerated.
Rogo said that Nigerian Navy would not relent in efforts toward enforcing maritime laws to get rid of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering activities and other crimes from Nigerian maritime domain.
Rogo advised all fishing trawlers to obtain approval from appropriate naval authorities and purchase products from approved sources.
He said that the Federal Department of Fisheries must through the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association warn all fishing trawlers to desist from buying illegally refined diesel from the creeks and stop using fishing trawlers to aid illegalities at sea.
He said that Operation Delta Sanity under the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral S.J Bura, was determined to end crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other criminalities within Nigeria’s waters.
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“The Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, is determined to ensure that Nigerian maritime domain remains secure and safe for all legitimate businesses to thrive toward building a stronger nation,” he said. (NAN)
