Navy Busts Major Crude Oil Theft Ring, Destroys Nine Illegal Refineries, Recovers 104,000 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers

• Nigerian Navy dismantles major illegal refining network in Bonny, destroying nine illegal refineries linked to crude oil theft syndicates.

•  Troops recover about 104,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil from 18 dugout pits and neutralise five newly excavated pits before they become operational.

• Eight locally fabricated refining pots and three large storage tanks were seized, crippling the refining capacity of criminal operators in Rivers State.

• Operation DELTA SENTINEL intensifies crackdown on economic sabotage as the Navy vows sustained intelligence-led operations to protect Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure and boost national revenue.

July 22 , () —  The Nigerian Navy has recorded another significant victory in its intensified campaign against crude oil theft and illegal refining, uncovering and dismantling a major illegal refining network in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where personnel recovered about 104,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

The operation comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government and security agencies to curb oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal refining, crimes that have for years cost Nigeria billions of dollars in lost revenue, reduced crude oil production, discouraged investment in the petroleum sector, and caused widespread environmental degradation across the Niger Delta.

The Navy has, in recent months, sustained intelligence-driven offensives under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, targeting criminal syndicates involved in economic sabotage and the destruction of critical oil and gas infrastructure.

According to an operational report issued by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny uncovered nine illegal refining sites during the latest operation.

Folorunsho disclosed that the operation led to the discovery of 23 dugout pits, 18 of which contained approximately 104,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.

He added that five newly excavated pits, already prepared for illegal refining operations, were detected and destroyed before they could become operational.

“The operation uncovered nine illegal refining sites comprising 23 dugout pits.

“Eighteen of the pits contained approximately 104,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, while five newly excavated pits prepared for imminent use were discovered and neutralised before they could become operational,” he said.

He noted that the swift action prevented the expansion of illegal refining activities within the area and dealt another heavy blow to organised crude oil theft syndicates.

Illegal Refining Equipment Destroyed

The naval spokesperson further disclosed that operatives recovered eight locally fabricated refining pots and three large storage tanks used by the suspects to process and store illegally refined petroleum products.

According to him, all illegal facilities were dismantled, while the recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.

“The operation dealt another major setback to crude oil theft syndicates and further reinforced the service’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.

“By targeting both active and emerging illegal refining hubs, the service continues to weaken the operational resilience of crude oil theft syndicates while protecting Nigeria’s economic interests,” Folorunsho stated.

Navy Reaffirms Commitment

He reaffirmed the Navy’s determination to sustain intelligence-led operations across the Niger Delta, stressing that the service would continue dismantling criminal logistics networks involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining.

According to him, the Navy remains committed to protecting strategic national assets, preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, and supporting the Federal Government’s drive to increase crude oil production by eliminating economic sabotage across the region.

The latest operation adds to a growing list of successful interventions by the Nigerian Navy under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, which has continued to disrupt illegal refining camps and deny oil thieves access to facilities used in siphoning and processing stolen crude across the Niger Delta.