Navy Arrests 5, 65,000 Litres Of Diesel Intercepted In Lagos

THE discovery of an illicit fuel storage in Lagos, Nigeria, with 65,000 liters of petroleum valued at N500 million, was revealed on Wednesday by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT.

The syndicate head, Ahmed Ariyo, and four other individuals were detained in a private apartment at 3 Silverbird Road, Ilasun Lekki, Lagos, where they were engaged in illicit activities, according to a statement released by the Base Information Officer, Lieutenant Hussein Ibrahim, on behalf of NNS.

According to Ibrahim, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, revealed that the illegal depot was discovered as a result of reliable information about questionable operations occurring at Elegushi Beach.

An official from the Base said that the intelligence required the NNS BEECROFT Quick Response Team to be sent to the scene, and that's how the suspects were found and apprehended.

AGO was loaded into eight 50,000-liter storage tanks at the depot, each holding approximately 57,000 liters, a tanker holding approximately 7,000 liters, and a bus carrying thirty jerry cans, each holding approximately 1,500 liters, according to Commodore Oladejo's statement.

He stated that, taking into account the current price of diesel at N1, 350 per liter, the total products found were approximately 65,000 litres of AGO, valued at N89 million.

According to the Commander, if the eight storage tanks at the flat are fully loaded with AGO, their combined capacity is estimated to be around 400,000 liters, or roughly N500 million.

He clarified that the early investigation had shown that the suspects may have obtained the goods through various illicit means along the shoreline, illegal merchants at sea, and pipeline damage.

In accordance with Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu, Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore Oladejo reaffirmed that NNS BEECROFT will not back down in its pursuit of oil thieves and other criminal elements.

He promised law-abiding residents assurances about NNS BEECROFT's resolve to eradicate all marine offenses from the Lagos maritime environment in order to promote socioeconomic growth.

Finally, the Commander gave the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody of the suspects, the merchandise, and the facility so that they could do additional research and maybe face legal action.