Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER have seized an estimated 103,500 litres of suspected illegally processed Automotive Gas Oil in Rivers State and uncovered a suspected route used to move stolen fuel to market.

Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, announced the development on Friday. He said the discovery was made during routine patrols near APS Limited Jetty in Woji under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, the Navy’s ongoing push to curb crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.

Troops said they became suspicious after watching a wooden boat attempt to offload cargo without proper clearance. A check of the vessel uncovered about 375 sacks believed to contain adulterated diesel.

According to the Navy, the incident suggests a deliberate effort to ferry illegally refined products from isolated creek camps into commercial distribution networks. The operation also highlighted a suspected transit path linking hidden refining sites to buyers in urban centres.

The boat and its load were taken into custody and processed under the Navy’s anti-oil theft protocols to keep the fuel out of circulation. Folorunsho said the service will continue using intelligence-led patrols to dismantle syndicates involved in oil theft, illegal refining, and the transport of stolen petroleum products.

Source: Nairametrics