The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, said it has impounded a fishing trawler that was allegedly converted to an oil theft vessel and destroyed 35 illegal refineries in anti oil theft raids.
A JTF statement signed by the spokesman, Onyeama Nwachukwu, a lieutenant colonel, said the oil theft operations were carried out between April 1 and 10 this year.
Increasing oil thefts in the oil producing areas has become a major source of worry to the Federal Government as well as oil producing states in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
The fishing trawler christened, Dallal, that was allegedly converted into a bunkering vessel for conveying stolen petroleum products was arrested along Akassa waterways in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
NNS Delta, a maritime component of the JTF, arrested the vessel laden with suspected stolen crude oil and towed it to Brass terminal where it has been secured pending further investigations.
SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa
