The Nigerian Navy has intercepted a vessel allegedly involved in crude oil theft, arresting 12 crew members and recovering about 650 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil alongside 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil in a major anti-oil theft operation in Akwa Ibom State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, targeted the vessel MT FILIA, which was intercepted at the UTUE Terminal while allegedly siphoning crude oil from an oil well terminal jacket, according to the Navy.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, said the arrest followed credible intelligence generated through the Navy's surveillance network and sustained monitoring by its operational platforms.
Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the vessel was transporting approximately 650 metric tonnes of crude oil and 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil without lawful authorisation or the required documentation, suggesting an alleged case of illegal crude oil bunkering.
"The vessel, its 12 crew members and the recovered petroleum products have been taken into custody pending further investigation and possible prosecution," Folorunsho stated.
The latest interception underscores the Nigerian Navy's renewed efforts to curb crude oil theft and safeguard critical oil infrastructure, a challenge that has continued to undermine Nigeria's petroleum industry, government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
Reacting to the operation, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the officers and ratings involved for their professionalism, vigilance and operational efficiency, describing the successful interception as another demonstration of the Navy's commitment to protecting the nation's maritime domain.
He reaffirmed that the Navy would sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, combating pipeline vandalism and suppressing other maritime crimes across Nigeria's coastal waters.
According to the Naval Chief, Operation DELTA SENTINEL has continued to deliver measurable results through enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies and industry stakeholders.
Providing an update on recent enforcement activities, Folorunsho disclosed that between April and June 2026, the Navy recovered more than 4.7 million litres of petroleum products, dismantled 58 illegal refining sites, destroyed 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, while arresting 91 suspects linked to crude oil theft and other petroleum-related offences.
He noted that the sustained crackdown coincided with Nigeria's crude oil production rising to approximately 1.89 million barrels per day (bpd) in July 2026, enabling the country to surpass its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota.
The Navy reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigeria's oil and gas assets and urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence that would support ongoing operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other maritime crimes.