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Sophisticated syndicates behind crude oil theft not petty thieves – Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian navy has said that “sophisticated and coordinated” syndicates are behind crude oil theft and illegal refining in the country.
This was disclosed on Thursday by the naval information director, Abiodun Folorunsho, during an interview session on Channels Television.
Folorunsho stated that those behind the criminal act cannot be labelled petty thieves, as much is required to execute a successful crude oil theft.
“These syndicates are very, very coordinated and very, very sophisticated. You don’t steal crude at that scale without some wherewithal to be able to make it happen.
“I mean, when you’re talking about metric tonnes, you’re talking about ships, and you know what it takes to operate at sea. It’s not something that you just come by on the road.
“When you look at the reward for a successful heist, you would understand why people will band together; people will invest in stuff like this to ensure that they’re able to take some of these for themselves,” he said.
The disclosure comes less than a day after the navy said it discovered three suspected illegal refining sites, six reservoirs and approximately 99,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
It said the products were recovered in its operational areas in Rivers and Delta states, while vowing to intensify the fight against crude oil theft.
Folorunsho stated that there would be no hiding place for criminals engaging in such illicit activities.
“But again, the message from the Nigerian Navy is: there is no hiding place with our maritime surveillance equipment and with the sustained drive under the directive of the incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
“I just wish to tell each one of them—I mean these criminal elements that want to come to perpetuate these crimes—their days are numbered, and if we catch you, of course, we’ll ensure that you face the law,” he stated.
