Confirming the arrest of the suspects, Rear Admiral Augustine Suleman, Flag Officer, Commanding, Central Naval Command, said the arrest of the suspects was made possible by a tip-off.
He said navy personnel discovered a tap on the trans forcados pipeline, fixed six inches valve that enables crude oil thieves access to Nigerian crude unhindered.
He said: “A trip to the site revealed drums of over 8,000 tonnes that have come from those involved in the illegal trade,” disclosing that the Nigerian government has lost billions of dollars to the suspected thieves.
Real Admiral Suleman said that the operatives realized that the Cotonou boats were not available and the illegal refineries no longer existed with the impunity that it used to be as the mother ships were arrested.
According to him, “what they are doing now is to connect pipes on this export line and they key the pipes on this export line and lay the pipes as far as two kilometers off shore and they load directly from there,” adding that the navy has discovered their tricks and the perpetrators of the illegality.
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