Operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) have arrested a Motor Tanker (MT) Harbour Spirit for alleged illegal activities within the country’s waters.
The vessel was intercepted on March 17 by operatives on board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Thunder while participating in this year’s multinational season exercise, Obangame Express.
The arrest on Bonny waters, in Rivers State, occurred barely two days after another suspect vessel MT Queen of Peace was intercepted for being in possession of petroleum products without valid documents.
A statement yesterday afternoon by Director, Naval Information (DINFO) Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said MT Harbour Spirit was a vessel of interest and was discovered to possess forged documents for the evacuation of fortified and auctioned product (crude oil) from MV Kome XVIII.
“Accordingly, MT Harbour Spirit and her crew of 13 men, all Nigerians, were arrested and handed over to Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY for further investigation and possible handover for prosecution.
Ayo-Vaughan also said naval operatives apprehended seven Beninoise in a long wooden boat fully loaded with unspecified petroleum products from questionable sources, while five other suspected oil thieves were arrested by NNS Pathfinder with a diesel laden barge and a tug boat which were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on March 14.