A private security contractor working with NNPC, Messrs. Tantita Security Services, has intercepted a suspicious vessel with 800,000 litres of stolen crude oil onboard.
The vessel has reportedly been operating stealthily for 12 years.
This was disclosed by NNPC on its official Twitter page. It added that the security company had commenced searching for the vessel after receiving credible intelligence.
It was gathered that the vessel, a MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462) – belonging to Holab Maritime Services Limited, was caught by security men offshore with the ship’s captain and crew members on board the vessel which was on its way to Cameroon.
Excerpt from NNPC’s public statement reads:
“Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious Vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil on board on July 7, 2023.
The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.”
