Nigerian Navy nabs crude-laden Ghananian vessel, 13 crew members
The Nigerian Navy (NN) says its teams operating under Operation Delta Sanity have nabbed a syndicate of 13 crew members.
It said the crew comprised of one Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians on board a Ghanaian owned and registered vessel known as Motor Tanker (MT) SWEET MIRI.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Information, Navy, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, a rear admiral, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Ayo-Vaughan said the operation was conducted on 25 February at
about 174 nm (approximately 320km) off Nigeria’s coast, heading toward Benin Republic, after the vessel was observed to have switched off her Automatic Identification System (AIS) in a bid to evade detection.
He said the infraction by the vessel contravened the International Ships and Port Security Code (ISPS) and was tagged a “Vessel of Interest” (VoI) by the NN.
According to him, the NN Maritime Domain Awareness infrastructure observed the criminal intent of the vessel and subsequently vectored two NN ships on patrol to interrogate the vessel.
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“It was discovered that MT SWEET MIRI was involved in illegalities and the vessel was subsequently arrested.
“Curiously, the suspicious disposition of the vessel necessitated the swift deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship ABA and Nigerian Navy Ship SOKOTO to intercept the vessel.
“Notably, upon arrest, MT SWEET MIRI was found carrying about two million litres of product suspected to be crude oil without any form of approval from relevant authorities,” he said.
Mr Ayo-Vaughan said the relevant approving/prosecuting agencies had been notified for samples collection with a view to further ascertaining the culpability or otherwise of the vessel.
This, he said, was in line with the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, for an in-depth and independent investigation, adding that it was necessary to unmask the enemies of the nation and to institute holistic and detailed investigations.
He assured that the navy, through the reinvigorated Operation Delta Sanity would continue to collaborate with relevant maritime, security and law enforcement agencies to closely monitor, evaluate and interdict where infractions were suspected.
This, according to him, is to bring economic saboteurs to book in line with relevant extant laws of the land.
(NAN)
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The Nigerian Navy (NN) says its teams operating under Operation Delta Sanity have nabbed a syndicate of 13 crew members.
It said the crew comprised of one Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians on board a Ghanaian owned and registered vessel known as Motor Tanker (MT) SWEET MIRI.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Information, Navy, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, a rear admiral, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Ayo-Vaughan said the operation was conducted on 25 February at
about 174 nm (approximately 320km) off Nigeria’s coast, heading toward Benin Republic, after the vessel was observed to have switched off her Automatic Identification System (AIS) in a bid to evade detection.
He said the infraction by the vessel contravened the International Ships and Port Security Code (ISPS) and was tagged a “Vessel of Interest” (VoI) by the NN.
According to him, the NN Maritime Domain Awareness infrastructure observed the criminal intent of the vessel and subsequently vectored two NN ships on patrol to interrogate the vessel.
READ ALSO: U.S., Russian crew blasts off for International Space Station
“It was discovered that MT SWEET MIRI was involved in illegalities and the vessel was subsequently arrested.
“Curiously, the suspicious disposition of the vessel necessitated the swift deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship ABA and Nigerian Navy Ship SOKOTO to intercept the vessel.
“Notably, upon arrest, MT SWEET MIRI was found carrying about two million litres of product suspected to be crude oil without any form of approval from relevant authorities,” he said.
Mr Ayo-Vaughan said the relevant approving/prosecuting agencies had been notified for samples collection with a view to further ascertaining the culpability or otherwise of the vessel.
This, he said, was in line with the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, for an in-depth and independent investigation, adding that it was necessary to unmask the enemies of the nation and to institute holistic and detailed investigations.
He assured that the navy, through the reinvigorated Operation Delta Sanity would continue to collaborate with relevant maritime, security and law enforcement agencies to closely monitor, evaluate and interdict where infractions were suspected.
This, according to him, is to bring economic saboteurs to book in line with relevant extant laws of the land.
(NAN)
Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
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TEXT AD: Call Willie – +2348098788999
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