The spirited efforts of the Nigerian Navy to checkmate the activities of illegal crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals operating in the Niger Delta has continued to yield positive results.
A statement on Wednesday said the Service, more than before, stepped up its operations against all forms of threats in the maritime environment with more combat platforms injected into the security of critical economic assets and safer water ways.
It said in view of the above, three persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy in connection with series of maritime crimes.
The suspects are Sani, popularly known as Dogonyaro; Usman, also popularly known as Smally; and Adamu Mani.
The suspects are said to still be undergoing investigation and will be handed over to the prosecuting authorities for further action.
The arrest of these suspects, the Navy said, has proven helpful in the fight against the criminals.
Similarly, operatives of Forward Operation Base, Badagry have arrested five citizens of Benin Republic in connection with economic crimes.
The suspects are Philmen Agboku, Penu Daniel, Sule Soka, Dosu Victor and Sodope Olivie.
They were arrested on May 26, 2016 along Tongeji-Port Novo axis at about 5am in a wooden cotonou boat conveying about 900 jerricans.
The jerricans contained product suspected to be stolen Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.
The suspects are being interrogated in order to get indepth view of the gang and its sponsors.
Additionally on May 26, 2016, the Nigerian Navy operative continued to deter criminals from operating illegal crude oil refineries and pipeline vandals.
The patrol team deployed from NNS DELTA destroyed a large illegal refinery with storage tanks containing stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, known as diesel, at Ayakurumo Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Also, the patrol team recovered three pumping machines and a cotonou boat carrying 80 drums of illegally refined AGO measuring 300 litres each.