Crude theft: Navy arrests 3 Ghanaians, 9 Nigerians

Crude theft: Navy arrests 3 Ghanaians, 9
Nigerians
on october 28, 2013 at 1:00 am in news
By SAMUEL OYADONGHA
YENAGOA — The Central Naval Command,
yesterday, announced the seizure of an oil vessel,
MT Frankesen, and arrest of 12 persons over
alleged theft of crude oil along the Akassa
waterways in Brass Local Government Area of
Bayelsa State.
Three of the suspects were identified as Ghanaians,
while the others were Nigerians. The seized vessel,
according to the Navy, is owned by a Port
Harcourt-based businessman.
Parading the suspects before newsmen in Brass on
Saturday, the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC,
Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali
Usman, said though the vessel’s movement log
showed evidences of previous voyages to Ghana,
the arrest of the vessel and the crew was carried
out by Naval operatives attached to the Forward
Operating Base of the Navy, FORMOSO.
He said: “The vessel was loaded with products
suspected to be stolen crude oil from Akassa in
Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The crew of the vessel consists of nine Nigerians
and three Ghanaians.
“On interrogation, the Captain, Adeyemi Akinleye,
confessed on video that they were instructed by the
owner of the vessel (names withheld), residing in
Port Harcourt, to load stolen crude oil from two
barges around Akassa and proceed to Tema in
Ghana, where the product would be disposed off.
“The captain revealed that a local pilot was used to
navigate the vessel into Nun River, while one Mr.
Destiny was the agent that supplied the product.”