The vessel was intercepted by OPDS at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Eleme Council Area of Rivers on the Bonny River.
The Nigerian Military Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe has impounded an MV Mother Mary, a vessel with 300,000 litres of illegally refined AGO (diesel) in Rivers State.
The vessel was intercepted by OPDS at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Eleme Council Area of Rivers on the Bonny River.
Commodore John Siyanbade, who represented the OPDS Commander, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the vessel was impounded on October 29, 2023.
Siyanbade was quoted by ChannelsTV as saying: “The vessel which was arrested by teams from Headquarters Operation OPDS was leaving with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined products suspected to be AGO and with two suspects onboard at the time of arrest.”
“The product was illegally sourced and the vessel was used as storage for this illegal product,” he added.
He further stated that prior to the seizure on Sunday, OPDS impounded two vessels, the MV Cecilia and the MV Ufuoma, which were being utilised for illicit activities.
“Vessels like this are being used as storage tanks for crude brought from illegal refining sites and other vessels and tankers take from them to go and sell to the public.
“In recent times it has been found that some well-known companies and organisations have patronised these markets and this seems to be the biggest market for those illegally refining crude,” he said.
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