From Joseph Obukuta (The New Diplomat’s N/D Correspondent)
Security operatives comprised of the Nigeria Navy Ship and Nigeria Customs Service have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal smuggling of foreign parboiled rice and illegal crude oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team, Operation CALM WATERS and Operation SWIFT RESPONSE, as well as joint Border Drill and the combined teams of OSR and Nigeria Customs Service Strike Force, recorded the breakthrough between June 10 and June 12, Military spokesman, Major General John Enenche, said in a statement.
Giving a graphic details of the various operations, Major General Enenche said that the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta discovered a newly-constructed illegal refining site around Bennett Island in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
Enenche explained that no arrest was made as the perpetrators fled on sighting the patrol team.
According to him, the team also located another illegal refining site around Uwakeno Community in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
The statement released on Monday read: “The Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA on June 10 20, discovered a newly constructed illegal refining site around Bennett Island in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
“The site had five ovens, five coolers and eight surface metal storage tanks cumulatively laden with about 943.3 barrels of product suspected to be crude oil.
“No arrest was made as the perpetrators fled on sighting the patrol team.
“On the same day, the team located another illegal refining site around Uwakeno Community in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
“The site had four ovens, four coolers, six surface metal storage tanks and two dug out pits cumulatively laden with about 10,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO and 440.2 barrels of stolen crude oil.
“The storage facilities were confiscated, and the site has been earmarked for swamp buggy operation.”
“Similarly, on 13 Jun 20, acting on INTREP, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team intercepted a large wooden boat laden with about 70,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO in 6 metal storage tanks along Benin River in Warri North LGA of Delta State. Efforts are ongoing to convey the boat and content to the Base.
“In the same vein, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT)/anti-illegal bunkering operations in its Area of Responsibility during the week. On 9 Jun 20, the Base patrol team located an illegal refining site around Isaka and Alakiri general area. The site had reservoirs laden with an about 1,257 barrels of crude oil. The site was dismantled. No arrest was made as the perpetrators fled on sighting the patrol team.
“Relatedly, Operation CALM WATERS and Operation SWIFT RESPONSE have continued to record remarkable successes. The successes recorded within the week include seizure of foreign parboiled rice as well as arrest of boats involved in smuggling activities amongst others.
“On 8 Jun 20, operatives of the Joint Border Drill intercepted an abandoned truck at Agbaragba Market, Ikom LGA of Cross River State loaded with 410 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice. The rice was suspected to have been smuggled in from Republic of Cameroon.
“Accordingly, the bags of rice and vehicle were evacuated to Mfum Border Post for onward movement to Government Warehouse, Calabar.
“Meanwhile on 12 Jun 20, the combined teams of OSR and Nigeria Customs Service Strike Force acting on credible intelligence raided a makeshift warehouse at Ishiet, Uruan LGA of Akwa Ibom State and confiscated 305 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice. The bags of rice were evacuated to Nigeria Customs Warehouse, Uyo for further action”.
