In its unalloyed commitment to protect and preserve Nigerian water ways, the Nigerian Navy has impounded a foreign registered vessel with 16 Ukrainian nationals for illegally transporting 5 million litres of diesel without permit from Nigerian authorities.
Reports have it that the vessel, MT San Padre Pio and the 16 all-male and new members were held in the operation, Capt. Suleiman Olorundare, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny disclosed this information to journalist Olorundare asserted, “The vessel anchored around Odudu Oil Field, Rivers, and waited to discharge the petroleum product to smaller vessels before it was caught by naval patrol team.”s.
Adding, “On Jan. 23, MT San Padre Pio with 16 crew members of Ukrainian nationals was arrested over unauthorized entry into the nation’s maritime environment.”
He continued, “When our troops went on-board the vessel, they discovered that the vessel engaged in illegal trading activities that contravene the nation’s maritime and cabotage laws.
The vessel was carrying petroleum products suspected to be diesel of about 5,000 metric tonnes (5 million litres).”
In view of the economic implications and in accordance with the law, the commanding officer, posited, “The seizure and arrest were carried out in compliance with ongoing clamp down on criminal activities within the nation’s territorial waters.”
Adding, The suspects breached international maritime laws and procedures by shipping
products in Nigeria’s waters without permit.”
His words: “We also discovered that the vessel has been coming into our territorial waters with petroleum products without recourse to the nation’s law that governs such activities
The Nigerian Navy will continue to arrest and prosecute criminal elements who carry out illegalities on our maritime environment with intent to making legitimate economic activities thrive.”
Olorundare handed the vessel, petroleum product and suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
However, when interviewed, the Captain of MT San Padre Pio, Andriy Vaskov, claimed that the vessel had clearance from the Nigerian Navy to ship the products to Nigeria.
