The Nigerian Navy has arrested two vessels, MT Mkpodu and MT Westaf AF, loaded with over 939 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil valued at more than N4 billion.

The militarynewsng.com reports that 26 crew members were also apprehended during the operation.

Commander of the Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe, Olugbenga Oladipo, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Calabar on Sunday.

He said the arrests highlight the Navy’s sustained commitment to combating crude oil theft and other economic crimes in the region.

According to Oladipo, the operation was carried out around midnight on April 8, following credible intelligence. He explained that the vessels were intercepted at a wellhead within the Calabar/Akwa Ibom Joint Operations Area while actively siphoning crude oil.

He added that MT Mkpodu was caught in the process of illegally extracting crude at the time of arrest.

The naval commander attributed the success of the operation to collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

He noted that the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff provided critical assets, including the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE and a naval helicopter, which delivered real-time aerial surveillance during the operation.

Following the interception, the vessels were secured offshore, while Nigerian Navy Ship OSE and personnel from the Forward Operating Base Ibaka facilitated the transfer of the suspects and vessels to the naval jetty in Calabar.

Oladipo further revealed that another vessel, MT Steliosk, was similarly arrested on April 10, underscoring ongoing efforts to curb oil theft in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

In his remarks, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Chidozie Okehie, commended the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining the crackdown, in line with the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas.