Navy impounds 5 vessels, 2 metallic barges laden with 1,690 tons of diesel in Rivers; Arrests 97 crew members

CHINEDU WOSU, PORT HARCOURT

In a bid to curb illegal economic crimes in the nation’s waterways, the Nigerian Navy has impounded five vessels and two metallic barges illegally transporting one thousand six hundred and ninety metric tons of diesels, in an operation in Rivers state.

Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Victor Adedipe, said on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital that the command had handed over the vessels, barges and 76 suspects to prosecuting security agencies in Onne, Rivers state.

Rear Admiral Adedibe said the 76   suspects are all-male crew members on board the vessels.

He said the suspects were received by operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Adedipe said the vessels: MT Anino, MT Rockfish, MT Blessed, MT Mona I, and MT Leadership were seized at different locations in the state.

The commander said troops on routine patrol caught MT Anino towing a barge with undisclosed quantity of petroleum products suspected to be illegally refined diesel.

The identities of the suspects were not made public as at the time of this report.