Navy Seizes Ghanaian Ship Thought To Be Associated With Crude Oil Theft

Ghanaian vessel suspected of being involved in crude oil theft has been captured by the navy

Motor Tanker Sweet Miri, a ship registered in Ghana, was taken into possession by the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft on suspicion of stealing crude oil.

The ship, which was traveling to the Benin Republic, was stopped 320 kilometers or 174 nautical miles off the coast of Nigeria.

In a statement, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, the Base Information Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, revealed that there were 13 crew members on board the ship at the time of arrest: 12 Nigerians and 1 Ghanaian.

According to the statement, Rear Admiral MB Hassan, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Western Naval Command, was transporting approximately two million liters of a suspected product without authorization.

The NNS SOKOTO was sent in to intensify the search and stop the ship, he continued. She was found to be carrying approximately 2 million liters of suspected product without authorization when they arrived.

According to the statement “The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT under the strategic leadership of Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga and Maritime Component Commander Operation AWATSE, arrested a vessel, Motor Tanker SWEET MIRI suspected to have been involved in crude oil theft. The vessel had 13 crew, 1 Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians.

“While briefing newsmen onboard the vessel, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan stated that the vessel has been a vessel of interest to the Nigerian Navy, and she is being arrested on suspicion of crude oil theft. He added that, on 25 February 2024, the vessel was observed to have switched off its Automatic Identification System to avoid detection.

“The vessel was arrested 174 nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria, approximately 320 kilometres, heading to Benin Republic. This necessitated the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship ABA to investigate the vessel. Subsequently, she was found carrying products suspected to be crude oil.

“Thereafter, NNS SOKOTO was deployed to double up the search and interdict the vessel. On arrival, it was discovered that she was carrying about 2 million litres of suspected product without approval.”