Uche Cecil Izuora
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a warehouse containing approximately 10,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during an anti-crude oil theft operation around the Eleme Express area of Rivers State, exposing a suspected storage and distribution point within the illicit petroleum supply chain.
The discovery was made by NNS PATHFINDER on 12 September 2026 during a patrol of the Eleme–Okrika–Onne general area. The product, contained in 400 jerrycans of 25 litres each, was suspected to have been sourced from locations outside the immediate community and stored for onward sale to buyers. No illegal refining site was identified at the location.
Beyond the volume recovered, the operation was significant because it disrupted a critical link in the illicit petroleum supply chain. The operation denied illicit operators a facility to accumulate and move illegally refined products to the market, thereby constraining the commercial network that sustains illegal refining activities.
The recovered products were subsequently handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrest was made as the suspected operators fled upon sighting the naval patrol team.