A private security firm, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) has intercepted an ocean-going vessel conveying thousands of metric tons of stolen crude oil offshore oil and gas rich Bayelsa State.
The interception and the arrest of some suspects in connection with the stolen crude oil was in line with TSSL mandate of ridding Nigeria of oil thieves.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that the vessel, named MT Kally, was apprehended during a joint operation by the officials of TSSL owned by Government Ekpemupolo and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recently.
The firm in a statement made available to Maritime Bits said the engineer and captain of the vessel who were identified as Promise Eze and Adeboye David, respectively, along with accomplices from some oil bearing communities in the South-south state were kept on board the vessel on Friday night as investigation into the vessel continued.
It also stated that before they were apprehended, the crew and their local accomplices were allegedly syphoning crude oil onto the vessel from the offshore Sokebolou field in Bayelsa State.
A preliminary report of the incident, according to Tantita, revealed the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team.
The Executive Director, TSSL Operations, Captain Warredi Enisuoh was said to have interrogated Eze and Adeboye who revealed that the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to transport crude oil illegally from offshore locations in Bayelsa State.
According to the duo, they departed Lagos following assurances by their boss, whom they declined to name, that all security agencies along the shore had been compromised, allowing them to carry out their illicit business.
The firm disclosed that they refused to name the security agencies involved in the alliance but revealed they work for a company named San-San.
According to Enisuoh, the vessel has been anchored at a location of Nigerian National Petroleum NNPC Limited in Oporoza in Delta State. The suspects were kept on board the vessel.
