Operation DELTA SENTINEL records fresh success as Nigerian Navy intercepts MT FILIA, intensifying crackdown on crude oil theft and maritime crimes…..
The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in its campaign against crude oil theft with the interception of a vessel allegedly transporting illegally obtained petroleum products in Akwa Ibom State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, resulted in the arrest of the vessel, identified as MT FILIA, along with its 12-member crew after naval personnel acted on intelligence indicating suspicious activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, who said the operation was carried out in the early hours of Thursday, July 23, following intelligence gathered through the Navy’s surveillance systems and sustained monitoring by its operational platforms.
According to the statement, naval operatives intercepted the vessel at the UTUE Terminal in Akwa Ibom while it was allegedly siphoning crude oil from an oil well terminal jacket.
Preliminary findings showed that the vessel was carrying about 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil without the required documentation or legal authorisation.
The Navy said the vessel, its crew and the recovered petroleum products have been taken into custody, while investigations are ongoing ahead of possible prosecution under existing laws.
Reacting to the operation, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and vigilance, describing the interception as another major achievement in the fight against economic sabotage.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to eliminating crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of maritime criminality that continue to threaten Nigeria’s economy and national security.
According to Abbas, Operation DELTA SENTINEL has continued to record measurable successes through intelligence-led operations, continuous surveillance and collaboration with other security agencies and key stakeholders in the maritime sector.
He noted that between April and June 2026, the operation led to the recovery of more than 4.7 million litres of petroleum products, the dismantling of 58 illegal refining sites, the destruction of 239 dugout pits and 13 illegal refining ovens, as well as the arrest of over 91 suspects linked to crude oil theft.
The Navy added that the sustained crackdown has coincided with an increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production, which reached 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, exceeding the country’s production quota under the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Reaffirming its resolve, the Navy said it would continue supporting national efforts to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, boost crude oil production and secure Nigeria’s maritime environment.
It also appealed to members of the public to support ongoing operations by providing credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in tackling crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across the country’s waterways.
