The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major breakthrough in the fight against crude oil theft, disrupting an illegal refining network and recovering about 104,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base, Bonny, under Operation Delta Sentinel following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected oil thieves operating within the Wakama/Bolo and Aworkiri communities.
During the raid, Naval Personnel uncovered nine illegal refining sites containing 23 dug-out pits.
Eighteen of the pits held an estimated 104,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, while five newly excavated pits prepared for illegal refining were destroyed before becoming operational.
The Navy also recovered eight locally fabricated refining pots and three large storage tanks, effectively disrupting the criminal network’s operations.
According to the Nigerian Navy, all illegal facilities and recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
The Navy said the operation underscores its commitment to preventing the expansion of illegal refining activities, dismantling crude oil theft syndicates, and protecting Nigeria’s vital oil and gas infrastructure through sustained intelligence-driven operations under Operation Delta Sentinel.