WorldStage– The Nigerian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command has intercepted a foreign-flagged oil tanker, MT FILIA, carrying approximately 650 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil.
The high-stakes maritime operation resulted in the swift arrest of 12 crew members onboard.
The intelligence-led breakthrough was executed by naval forces under the ongoing anti-crude oil theft initiative, Operation Delta Sentinel.
Briefing journalists in Calabar on the development, Commodore Abubakar Umar, the Operations Officer for the Eastern Naval Command, disclosed that the vessel was flying the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe.
According to naval authorities, the tanker had loitered near the offshore oil terminals in Akwa Ibom State for over seven days.
The crew was reportedly waiting for a security opening to illegally access crude oil jackets.
At approximately 04:00 hours on July 23, 2026, the MT FILIA, according to Umar, siphoned the product and departed seaward from the Utue Offshore Oil Terminal.
He said a Nigerian Navy patrol boat swiftly pursued and cornered the vessel within Nigerian territorial waters.
Realising they were cornered, the crew attempted to evade arrest and destroy evidence by dumping the stolen crude directly into the sea, triggering immediate maritime pollution, he stated.
The confiscated cargo is estimated to be worth over ₦660 million.
In addition to the stolen crude, investigators discovered 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil stored without valid legal documentation or authorization.
The Navy confirmed that the 12 arrested crew members are Nigerian nationals.
Following the captain’s confession regarding the illegal loading, the vessel, its crew, and the recovered cargo were taken into custody.
Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie has called for the accelerated prosecution of the suspects.
He emphasized that prolonged court cases undermine deterrence and reiterated the Navy’s unwavering commitment to shielding Nigeria’s critical infrastructure from economic saboteurs.
