The Nigerian Navy (NN) has stepped up efforts in the ongoing clampdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkery activities in the Niger Delta which has led to destruction of more illegal refineries and arrest of perpetrators.

In one of the sites raided by the patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA on 8 Nov 2016, the team destroyed about 10 metric tonnes (MT) of product suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Ogbodede Community in Warri South LGA of Delta State.

A statement by the Naval Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe said the operation is a follow up to an earlier raid in which three persons were arrested for their involvement in illegal bunkery operations.

Ezekobe said in a related development, the NN has observed that illegal refinery operators in the Niger Delta now refine Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) against the popular Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

He maintain that the latest development affirms the desperation by these criminal elements to devise other means of perpetuating economic sabotage.

He said Preliminary investigation has proven that the illegal refinery operators have chosen to refine Kerosene to conveniently sell to innocent customers who are mostly local users adding that the NN and other security agencies will continue to wage onslaught on these criminals in an effort to stop the illicit business.

“Consequently, the NN wishes to warn the general public particularly local consumers on the dangers of patronizing adulterated DPK and to further state that the product is not good for domestic use” the statement added.