OPERATIVES of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield have arrested a merchant vessel loaded with 1,500 metric tons of substance suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil popularly known as diesel.
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt.-Col. Ado Isa, said the 2,000 capacity vessel, MV EUROPORT, was apprehended following a tip-off on June 2, 2015, at Foruopa in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Isa explained that no arrest was made as the suspects on board the vessel escaped into the high sea in a speed boat upon sighting operatives of the joint task force.
He said the vessel was now in the custody of the security outfit pending the end of an ongoing investigation.
Isa further disclosed that operatives within the Eleme area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, also seized 33,000-ton capacity truck at Onne with Registration Number Anambra 784 AWK loaded with substance suspected to be crude oil.
The substance, according to him, was also suspected to have been acquired through illegal bunkering.
“No suspect was arrested as the driver absconded on sighting JTF troops,” he added.
Isa, however, expressed the hope that the arrests would discourage oil thieves and criminally-minded persons from engaging in illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalisation and other oil-related crimes in the region.
He assured members of the public of the command’s determination to stamp out crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities affecting the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta.
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