… Reveals How Company’s Officials Hid Under The Cover Of Transporting Sewage To Steal Nigeria’s Crude
….Another Vessel Used In Stealing Crude Oil Destroyed
Working in partnership with Tantita Security Services Ltd, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, has again recorded another breakthrough in its fight against crude oil thieves, with the interception of trucks and the discovery of a depot used in stealing crude oil in Nigeria.
The discovery was made on Friday by operatives of Tantita Security Services while securing the Assets belonging to the NNPC located in Warri, Delta State.
THE WHISTLER understands that the discovery of the illegal movement of Nigeria’s crude was made following intelligence reports received two weeks ago by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and Mason Engineering indicated that the location was being used for activities outside its approval limits.
The operation saw the arrest of four crude oil thieves who were discovered to have been hiding under the guise of sewage transportation to steal crude oil.
The vessel identified as FP Amangwu used by the crude oil thieves was also destroyed by a joint team of government security agencies.
It was learnt that Mawe Services Limited had approval from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to provide services within the confines of lifting sludge
However, intelligence reports indicated that the location was being used for activities outside its approval limits.
Further intelligence also revealed that a 1,000 metric ton capacity barge was coming to berth alongside its jetty, loaded with illegal Crude Oil declared as sludge.
Speaking during a tour of the facility, the Executive Director, Operations and Technical Tanitta Security Services Nigeria Limited, Captain Warredi Enisuoh said the Barge was towed by an unknown Tugboat into Mawe Services Limited’s Jetty and left.
According to him, a team of Tantita Security Services Operatives continued to monitor the Jetty for suspicious activities.
He said during the surveillance, it was observed that a Sewage Truck with Plate No. JR7750XA visited the Jetty twice.
During its third visit on 12th May 2023, Enisuoh explained that the Truck was accosted by the Tantita Security Operatives keeping constant vigil over the area.
He said, “Upon inspection, the substance found inside the tank was not sewage, but rather, Crude Oil. The driver was arrested and handed over to Government Security Operatives.
“The driver later revealed the destination of the contents, which took us to another yard inland, also operated by Mawe Services Limited.
Within the Mawe Services Limited’s premises, there were two metallic cylindrical tanks of about 45,000 litres capacity, each. Both tanks were inspected and one was found to be filled up with Crude Oil.”
He explained further that the Driver of the Truck confirmed that he has been transferring the contents of the barge into the tank that was filled.
“An inspection of the Yard Security Logbook showed that the Truck visited the location severally and the contents of the Truck were well spelt out as ‘crude,” he added.
He added that based on the operation of the crude oil thieves, the stolen crude oil would be stored at a barge and then transferred to illegal refineries with smaller vehicles for processing into petrol and diesel.
This discovery is the latest in the series of disturbing findings that the NNPC’s Private Security Contractors have recently reported.
On October 6 last year, THE WHISTLER reported how operatives of Tantita Security laid ambush on a suspected oil syndicate and apprehended the captain and seven other crew members.
The arrest was made while the criminals were pumping crude oil from an illegal connection which they had fixed to a Chevron pipeline in the Warri River.
Culled from THE WHISTLER
