The Nigerian Navy seized 22,870 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel in an intelligence-led operation in Rivers State under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The raid was conducted by personnel from NNS SOROH in the Orashi Forest area of Okolomade Community, Abua/Odual Local Government Area, near the border with Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. According to the report from the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation followed credible intelligence about the movement of illegal petroleum products through local creek channels.
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A patrol team initially intercepted a wooden boat carrying 36 sacks of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Drone surveillance later revealed additional stockpiles hidden under vegetation and inside nearby ponds. The use of aerial technology allowed naval personnel to detect concealment methods often employed by criminals, including submerging containers in water or burying them under foliage to evade ground patrols.
A search uncovered 45 more sacks of the product, bringing the total to 81 sacks—about 22,870 litres.
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The operation disrupts logistics for illegal refining networks, a persistent issue in the Niger Delta. By targeting transportation routes and storage points, the Navy aims to sever the supply chains that sustain these operations, which often rely on small vessels and hidden depots to move products undetected.
Such seizures are part of broader efforts to curb crude oil theft, which has long plagued Nigeria’s oil industry. The Federal Government has cited theft as a major barrier to increasing crude production, as it leads to revenue losses, environmental damage, and infrastructure degradation. Security agencies have escalated intelligence-driven operations to address pipeline vandalism and smuggling in the region.
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The Navy’s use of aerial drones has improved detection of concealed stockpiles, making it harder for thieves to evade capture. This technological advantage has proven critical in identifying hidden caches that would otherwise go unnoticed during traditional patrols, particularly in the region’s complex terrain of creeks and forests.