The Nigerian Navy said it intercepted 210,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil concealed in water tanks inside a large wooden boat around the Lagos anchorage.
The agency, through a statement on Saturday by the Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, Sub-Lt. Veronica Effiong, said 10 suspected vandals were also arrested in connection with the seizures.
The vandals, Financial Street learnt, were arrested on May 8 by personnel of the NNS BEECROFT, while on routine patrol.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are of Nigerian origin attempting to smuggle the AGO into Benin Republic, before their arrest,” the officer said.
The statement quoted the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Bashir Mohammed, as reiterating the commitment of the base to the protection of critical national infrastructure and the eradication of illegal activities in its area of responsibility.
“This is in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s mission statement and Strategic Directive of 2021-5.
“The determination of the Nigerian Navy to rid Nigeria’s maritime space of all forms of criminality and the emplacement of a safe maritime environment for legitimate businesses has yielded a positive result,” Effiong noted.
According to her, the vandals and seized products were handed over on June 15 to the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigation and prosecution.
“I urge members of the public, especially our host communities, to kindly furnish the base with credible information to assist in curbing the activities of criminal elements and economic saboteurs,” she added.
