A patrol team of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Cross River,
has intercepted 204 drums of illegally refined diesel being smuggled to
Cameroon, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The team also arrested four suspects in connection with the seizure. The
suspects are Okon Asuquo-Okon, Unwana Nkereuwem, Ndundu Entom and
Victor Effiok.
The Commander of NNS Victory, Rear Adm. Vincent Okeke, handed over the
petroleum product and suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) in Calabar.
Okeke, who was represented by Navy Capt. Ibrahim Gwaska, said they were
arrested on March 13 at the Calabar River entrance enroute Cameroon
He said the product laden in a wooden boat was suspected to be illegally refined
Automative Gas Oil (AGO).
“On Friday, March 13, 2020, NNS Victory patrol team on routine patrol
intercepted and arrested a wooden boat laden with substances suspected to be
AGO at Calabar River entrance en-route Republic of Cameroon.
“Investigation revealed that the suspected illegally refined AGO was loaded from
Ijaw Creek around Bonny Island in Rivers State and was heading to Wovia in
Cameroon,” he said.
He added that on the same date and location, another boat laden with 105 drums
of AGO was arrested, but the suspects absconded on sighting the Navy Base
gunboats.
“Prior to this very arrest, on March 4 2020, the base patrol team arrested three
suspects and 54 drums of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in a
wooden boat at Agbana West Point by Tom Shot Island Breakwaters.
He said the PMS were handed over to the State Commandant of the NSCDC on
March 6.
“Similarly, on March 7, 2020, a wooden boat laden with 42 bags of rice was
intercepted without suspects. The total market value of the items is N22 million,”
he added.
He warned criminals in the state to desist from illegal acts and engage in
legitimate businesses or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The state Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Danjuma Elisha, received the petroleum
products and the suspects and promised to diligently prosecute the matter.
