Rear Admiral David Adeniran, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, while briefing newsmen in Onne on Friday, said two suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged crime.
He disclosed naval troops acting on intelligence trailed the five metallic barges to Yellow Platform in Onne general area before they were intercepted and two men arrested.
“Troops in the early hours of Thursday during routine patrol and acting on credible intelligence intercepted five large metallic barges carrying petroleum product.
“The barges laden with products suspected to be illegally refined diesel were intercepted at Onne general area and two male suspects were arrested,’’ he said.
He said the seizure was in compliance with the Chief of Naval Staff’s directives to free the waterways and creeks of illegal bunkers, pipeline vandals, sea pirates and robbers.
“Our patrol team on boarding the barges discovered that four out of the five barges were laden with products that may have been lifted from illegal refining sites.
“The metallic barges are very large in capacity and each can take roughly about 3.2 million litres of diesel,’’ he said.
Adeniran added that investigation was ongoing to arrest the mastermind.
