The Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has apprehended the MV Mother Mary vessel along with two crew members in Rivers State. The vessel was found carrying 300,000 liters of illegally refined AGO (diesel) and was seized at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Eleme Council Area of Rivers, located on the Bonny River.
Commodore John Siyanbade, who represented the OPDS Commander, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, disclosed that the vessel was arrested on October 29, 2023.
“The vessel which was arrested by teams from Headquarters Operation OPDS was leaving with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined products suspected to be AGO and with two suspects onboard at the time of arrest.”
“The product was illegally sourced and the vessel was used as storage for this illegal product, “Commandant Siyanbade said.
Prior to this seizure, OPDS had also impounded two other vessels, MV Cecilia and MV Ufuoma, which were engaged in illicit activities.
“Vessels like this are being used as storage tanks for crude brought from illegal refining sites and other vessels and tankers take from them to go and sell to the public.”
“In recent times it has been found that some well-known companies and organisations have patronised these markets and this seems to be the biggest market for those illegally refining crude.”
“OPDS will continue to handle illegal refining sites but going forward more effort will be put into the logistic chain cut-off. ”
OPDS is taking actions to address not only illegal refining sites but also the logistics chain that supports these activities. The two suspects arrested in this operation will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for potential prosecution. The commander warned all individuals involved in any form of illegality to cease their activities immediately, as the law will eventually catch up with them.