The Joint Process Power, Operation Delta Protected, OPDS, has arrested 17 individuals and impounded two vessels full of illegally refined automotive gasoline oil (diesel).
The Commander of OPDS, Rear Adm. John Okeke, disclosed this to newsmen at Onne, Rivers, on Wednesday.
In response to him, the 17 individuals have been crew members of the 2 vessels.
He mentioned that one of many vessels, MV King James, was laden with 400,000 litres of diesel, whereas the opposite, MV Messiah 1, carried 100,000 litres of diesel.
He added that OPDS impounded the vessels on the Federal Ocean Terminal at Onne.
The commander additional mentioned that OPDS arrested the crew members on the Onne River.
He mentioned that MV King James was impounded with seven crew members whereas MV Messiah 1 was arrested with 10 crew members.
Okeke mentioned that the petroleum product had been handed over to the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder.
He gave the reassurance that the arrested individuals can be handed over to the suitable authorities for potential prosecution.
He mentioned the vessels had no approval and bonafide paperwork to hold the product.
“The OPDS which I symbolize for the navy is the statutory company for oil approvals. It signifies that when a vessel is discovered with out requisite paperwork, it has defaulted,” he mentioned.
Okeke suggested these indulging in oil theft, unlawful oil refining and different illegalities to cease the acts and interact in respectable companies, or be ready to face the total wrath of the regulation.
