Navy Destroys 14 Illegal Refineries, Seizes N2bn Products

Troops of the Nigerian Navy conducting Operation Dakatar Da Barawo have confiscated crude oil and other illegally refined products worth N2.789 billion.

They arrested five suspects and destroyed 14 Illegal refining sites.

The director of Information Naval Headquarters Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan said 22 wooden boats were also recovered between June 13 and June 19, 2022.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Ayo-Vaughan said, “The various NN platforms deployed for ‘Operation Dakatar Da Barawo, Calm Waters 11’ and Tripartite Joint Border Patrol have continued to sustain aggressive patrols to curb the menace of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering. Accordingly, several illegal refining sites (IRS), metal storage tanks, wooden boats, dugout pits and ovens were destroyed between 13th and 19 June, 2022.

The summary of data and achievements of the operation within the period under review is as follows:

Crude Oil – 2,305,000 litres (11,820.512 barrels at 120 USD = N594,335,343.36)

AGO – 2,642,000 at N820 = N2,166,440,000, DPK – 50,000 litres at N565 = N28,250,000. Total value of products denied oil thieves equals N2,789,025,343.36

“We also arrested five suspects, 14 IRS , 80 storage tanks, 22 wooden boats, 40 ovens , two speed boats, a tanker, truck, barge and a Toyota Sienna car were recovered during the various operations during the period,” he said.