The Nigerian Navy has intercepted and arrested a vessel suspected of siphoning stolen crude oil in Akwa Ibom State, recording another major success under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
In a statement on Monday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said naval personnel intercepted the vessel, MT FILIA, at UTUE Terminal in the early hours of Thursday, 23 July 2026, following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance.
According to the Navy, preliminary investigations showed the vessel was carrying an estimated 32.82 metric tonnes of Fuel Oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil without lawful authorisation or required documentation. The vessel, its 12 crew members, and the recovered cargo have been taken into custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Speaking on the operation, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the professionalism and vigilance of the personnel involved. He reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to eliminate crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other maritime crimes that undermine Nigeria’s economy and national security.
“Operation DELTA SENTINEL, launched to combat crude oil theft and associated economic sabotage, continues to deliver measurable operational successes through persistent surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and close collaboration with other security agencies,” Vice Admiral Abbas said.
The Navy noted that between April and June 2026, Operation DELTA SENTINEL recorded:
- Over 4.7 million litres of petroleum products recovered
- 58 illegal refining sites deactivated
- 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens destroyed
- 91 suspects arrested in connection with crude oil theft
The operational gains coincided with an upsurge in national crude oil production to 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, surpassing Nigeria’s OPEC production quota.
The Navy said it remains committed to protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure and maintaining a secure maritime environment for economic growth. It urged members of the public to provide credible information to assist in combating crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
28 July 2026