Crude Oil Theft' Navy Arrest MT Vinnalaris Lagos 1 in Ondo State

Nigerian Navy (NN) Forward Operating Base (FOB) have arrested one Motor Tanker (MT) Vannilaris 1 Lagos for crude oil theft in Ondo

The Navy in a Statement through the Director of Information, Commodore Ayo Vaughan, disclosed the arrest that the NN Forward Operating Base, (FOB) Igbokoda area in Ondo on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at about 10:00pm detected and arrested in the early hours of Thursday December 7, 2023 at about 3.00am, a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS.

He stated that the vessel had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest and was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at Ebesan oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje local government area of the State. 

According to him, the apprehension of the vessel was based on credible intelligence received by the base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location which informed the swift deployment of FOB Igbkoda personnel to enforce the arrest of the vessel and her crew. 

" Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB Igbokoda approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the 2 x boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality"

 "On arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the wellhead."

"Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality"

The spokesperson further disclosed that the vessel’s storage capacity is about 15,000 metric tonnes and as at the time of arrest she had loaded about 500 Metric tonnes of crude oil. 

He noted that the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He however, warns all criminals and their cohorts that NN will use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment. 

He advised individuals carrying out legitimate business to go about their legitimate activities, while the Navy solicits the cooperation of patriotic and well - meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminalities especially in the coastal communities to the Nigerian Navy for necessary action.

He added that he believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS. 

" Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the NN that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous. Nonetheless, the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity.