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Tanker detained for illegal fuel transfer

The Nigerian Navy on May 22, 2019, handed over 22 suspects and two vessels arrested over alleged unwholesome oil deals to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Warri, Delta State. They also handed over a wooden boat containing 240, 000 litres of product suspected to be illegally-refined diesel to the anti-graft agency. The items and the crew were apprehended on May 19 offshore in Escravos River. The suspects commenced the transfer of the illegally acquired product into the vessels on May 18. The patrol team of the NNS "Delta" on May 19 at about 1.30 a.m. apprehended the “SD Waterman” and “Nipal” and about 22 crew members who were carrying out illegal transfer of products. While bringing in the vessels from Escravos, one of the ships was seriously taking in water and sank. Efforts were ongoing to salvage the vessel. Some of the drums and products were recovered and brought back to the NNS “Delta”. The product on board is suspected to be illegally-refined AGO (diesel). One of the Cotonou boats, which were arrested beside the “Nipal”, had about 150 tons on board. The vessel and the boat were nabbed in the process of starting the ship-to-ship transfer, while the “SD Waterman” had already taken some of the products from another Cotonou boat. There were about 80 tons in the boat alongside the “SD Waterman”, while about 10 tons had already been transferred. The Navy carried out preliminary investigations and found the arrested vessels and crew members culpable of committing economic crime. In that regard, it was decided to invite in the EFCC to take over the case for further investigation and possible prosecution. The Benin Zonal office of EFCC took over the “Nipal” and “SD Waterman” along with one Cotonou boat. And commenced investigation by telling officials of DPR in Warri. Samples were to be taken and quality analysis to be done.