A merchant
vessel, MV SHIRLEY and Motor Tanker (MT) Vine allegedly laden with 745 metric
tons of stolen AGO, popularly known as diesel, have been arrested by the
Nigerian Navy.
The vessels,
which were arrested along with their 14 crew members by operatives of the
Nigeria Navy Ship BEECROFT, were handed over to the Department of Petroleum
Resources (DPR) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
While MT
VINE with six crew members was laden with products whose flash point was higher
than the specification of the regulatory agencies, MV SHIRLEY with eight crew
carried low quality products.
At the
handover, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral
Sylvanus Abba, said MT VINE was arrested on June 9, at about 1:30am, on its
arrival at SB BAKARE Jetty, Kirikiri, to discharge the about 600MT of AGO it
was carrying.
He disclosed
that the flash point of the product was higher than that specified by DPR and
Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), adding that the colour of the product
was off DPR standard as indicated by lab analysis.
“When the
vessel’s haulage was checked, it was discovered that MT VINE was carrying about
600MT of AGO as against the 400MT quantity authorized.
For MV SHIRLEY, it was arrested
around 6:10p.m. on April 19, at Lagos anchorage for allegedly dealing in
petroleum products illegally.
“The vessel
was laden with about 145MT of AGO without valid documents for carrying
petroleum products in Nigerian waters. Samples of the products were taken for
laboratory test to ascertain its quality and the result indicated that the
sample did not meet DPR/SON specifications, which indicated that it might have
been refined illegally.
” he said.
Abbah
reiterated that the navy in its renewed efforts to purge maritime domain of
illegalities, would not tolerate any fraudulent activities.
“The command has zero tolerance for every form of criminality in its area
of responsibility. Defaulters are advised to desist from such acts or face the
wrath of the law.”
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