Nigerian Navy continues crackdown on economic saboteurs, dismantles black‑market fuel ring in Rivers.

The Nigerian Navy, together with the ship Pathfinder, carried out an anti‑crude oil theft patrol under Operation Delta Sentinel on Friday and dismantled a black‑market fuel ring in the Okrika general area of Rivers State.

A statement signed by Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, said the operation is part of the Navy’s ongoing campaign against economic saboteurs and illegal petroleum networks.

During the raid, naval forces uncovered a major storage hub that was linked to the distribution of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.

“During the operation, naval personnel uncovered a warehouse located around Okochiri Kingdom in Okrika Local Government Area containing 410 drums cumulatively laden with approximately 123,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO,” the statement read.

It added that a preliminary assessment indicated the products were likely transported from illegal refining sites outside the community and stockpiled in the warehouse for onward distribution through illicit supply networks.

The statement further highlighted that the discovery underscores a growing trend of illegal petroleum operations moving beyond refining camps into concealed storage and distribution systems designed to evade ongoing anti‑crude oil theft efforts and sustain black‑market fuel trade across the region.

It also noted that “the products were subsequently handled in line with established anti‑crude oil theft procedures, while follow‑on assessment and surveillance within the general area remain ongoing.”

“Current operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL remain focused on dismantling the broader logistics and supply architecture that sustains crude oil theft, illegal refining, and illicit petroleum distribution within the Niger Delta,” the statement added.

The Nigerian Navy reiterated its commitment to protecting critical national assets and denying economic saboteurs operational space within the maritime and littoral environment, in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s vision.