Navy, NDLEA Arrest Three, Recover 80,000 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude in Delta

The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested three suspected drug traffickers and recovered illicit substances as well as about 80,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Delta State.

The operations were carried out between Monday and Tuesday in separate locations across the Niger Delta creeks as part of ongoing efforts to tackle crude oil theft and other criminal activities in the region.

The Navy said its personnel first operated in Oteghele community, where they discovered a dug-out reservoir containing about 30,000 litres of crude oil.

A second operation in Obodo Omadino, Delta community, led to the discovery of another reservoir containing approximately 50,000 litres of crude oil, bringing the total recovered to about 80,000 litres.

In a separate joint operation targeting suspected illicit drug activities around Warri and its environs, NNS Delta and NDLEA personnel arrested three suspects and recovered 15 kilogrammes of cannabis, alongside quantities of cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and other suspected illicit substances.

The Navy said the suspects and recovered items had been handed over to the NDLEA and remained in the agency’s custody for further investigation and necessary action.

Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Shehu Tasiu, said the operation demonstrated the Navy’s capacity to tackle different forms of maritime and coastal insecurity, including crude oil theft, illegal petroleum activities and drug trafficking.

Tasiu described the operation as a significant development in efforts to combat oil theft and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta, warning that criminal activities within the NNS Delta operational area would be met with professional enforcement measures.