Vessel Syphoning Nigerian Crude Oil Illegally for 12 years Arrested

A vessel syphoning Nigerian crude oil illegally for about 12 years has been arrested

It was intercepted by a private security contractor engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd), while conveying 800,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

The vessel and its crew members were apprehended on July 7, by operatives of Messrs. Tantita Security Services at an offshore location heading to Cameroon.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Now Importing Petrol ‘On Credit’ – Report

Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Mr Garba Muhammad who stated this in a statement today in Abuja gave its details as MT TURA II, IMO number: 6620462.

According to the statement, it is owned by a Nigerian company, Holab Maritime Services Limited with Registration Number RC813311.

“There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo on-board at the time of the arrest.

“Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last 12 years.

`The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011,’’ he said.

Providing further background, he said preliminary investigations showed the crude oil cargo on-board was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore in Ondo State, Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Nemesis As Crude Oil Thief Drowns In Well Trying To Escape

Already, the details of the arrest have been availed the relevant authorities of the government, adding that a decision had been taken to destroy the vessel to act as a deterrent to others in the illegal business.

He said it was important to destroy vessels connected with illegal dealing of the such.

The Eagle reports that last October, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has narrated how an illegal oil pipeline connecting directly to the high sea was recently discovered.

According to him, the four-kilometre or 2.5-mile connection from the Forcados export terminal, was exporting around 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil, into the sea.

READ ALSO: Oil Theft: Stop Accusing The Military, Monarch Tells Asari Dokubo

“Oil theft in the country has been going on for over 22 years but the dimension and rate it assumed in recent times is unprecedented,” Kyari reportedly told the lawmakers.

If that is the case, it is not a surprise therefore, the latest report of a vessel syphoning Nigerian crude oil illegally for about 12 years.

It is expected therefore that security agencies plug the holes of such illegal deals.