JTF intercepts stolen crude, arrests foreigner

THE Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Restore Hope yesterday said they had intercepted a vessel owned by a Greek firm known as Blossom S.A with over 800 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil from a facility operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC).


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A foreign national, Mr. Minzaw Tinmaungyaw from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma in the Indo China area of South-East Asia was arrested on board the vessel identified as MT Glory.

The vessel, according to reports, was intercepted at about midnight on March 31 by the operatives of the JTF along the Lagosgbene community in Brass Local Council area of Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that aside from the Myanmar national arrested by the JTF, other crewmembers suspected to be Nigerians on board the vessel reportedly dived into the sea and escaped.

But another investigation showed that the arrested vessel was a courier to a larger vessel with over 25 crewmembers of Myanmar nationals on board waiting outside the nation's territorial waters.

A security source close to the Sector Command of the JTF led by Col. Victor Ezugwu confirmed that the Nigerian link with the arrested vessel had made a N2 million bid for the release of the suspect and the vessel but was turned off as the sector commander went ahead with the arrest of those involved in the oil theft.

The coordinator of the Joint Media Centre of the JTF, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, while taking journalist along side the sector commander, on a visit to the arrested vessel in Brass, said the arrest had further shown the resolve of the Federal Government to put a stop to the cases of oil theft along its territorial waters.

Antigha said though the vessel has the capacity to load over 2,000 metric tones of crude oil, over 800 metric tones had been loaded before it was apprehended.

"All we have done is to conclude our report on the arrest and it will be forwarded to the appropriate authority for further action," he said.

He pointed out that the JTF would also hand over the arrested vessel to the authority of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution of the suspects.

The arrested Myanmar national Minzaw Tinmaungyaw confirmed the illegal loading of the crude oil but denied any involvement in the act saying he was only a passenger on board the sized vessel.