The Nigerian Navy said on Friday that it uncovered a concealed fuel storage site containing approximately 11,800 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) in Rivers.

An operational report by the director of naval information, Abiodun Folorunsho, said the discovery was made by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, under Operation Delta Sentinel, during ongoing operations against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering within its area of operation.

“Acting on the discovery, the base anti-crude oil theft team confirmed that the concealed site contained 125 sacks laden with products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

“The operation exposed another covert storage point believed to have been used to stockpile illegally refined petroleum products, pending onwards distribution.

“This highlights the continued efforts of criminal networks to sustain illicit fuel trade within the Niger Delta,” he said.

Mr Folorunsho said the recovered products were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs another logistical nod that supports illegal petroleum activities.

According to him, the successful operation underscored the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to identify and dismantle the infrastructure that enabled crude oil theft and illegal refining.

He said that by targeting concealed storage locations and disrupting supply networks, the service continues to degrade the operational capacity of criminal syndicates while safeguarding Nigeria’s critical economic assets.

Mr Folorunsho reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations to combat crude oil theft, disrupt illicit petroleum distribution networks and protect the nation’s maritime environment.

(NAN)