Nigerian Navy on Wednesday in Lagos arrested and handed over two vessels with 14 crew members on-board to the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Adm. Sylvanus Abbah, said this to newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Lagos.

In line with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok Ibas’s directives to rid Nigeria’s maritime environment of criminalities, personnel of the WNC while on routine patrol arrested two vessels and 14 crew members.

The two arrested vessels, MV SHIRLEY and MT VINE, were laden with suspected stolen petroleum products,’’ he said.

According to the FOC, MV SHIRLEY and its eight crew members were arrested on April 19 at about 6 p.m. at Lagos anchorage for allegedly dealing in petroleum products.

The vessel was laden with about 145 metric tonnes (MT) of AGO without valid documents for carrying petroleum products in Nigerian waters.

Samples of the products were taken for laboratory test to ascertain its quality which the test result did not meet the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON) specification which indicated that the product was illegally refined,’’ he said.

The FOC said MT VINE was also arrested on June 9 on arrival at SB BAKARE Jetty, Kirikiri in Lagos to discharge product.

During the arrest, it was observed that the flash point of the product was higher than that specified by DPR and SON.

More so, the colour of the product was off DPR standard as indicated by the laboratory analysis.

The haulage of the vessel was carried out and it was discovered that the vessel was carrying about 600MT of AGO as against the 400MT quantity authorised,’’ he said.

Abbah reiterated that the navy in its renewed efforts to curb maritime domain of illegalities would not tolerate any fraudulent activities in the nation’s maritime environment.

The command has zero tolerance for every form of criminality in its area of responsibility and advises defaulters to desist from such act or face the wrath of the law,’’ Abbah warned for preliminary investigation,” he said.

Choji said the Navy had conducted thorough investigation on the matter and was convinced that the diesel was sourced from illegal refineries, as it did not meet required standard.

The Executive Officer explained that EFCC would carry out further forensic analysis of the vessel and content to unravel the circumstances behind the illegal shipment.

Choji urged residents particularly those in coastal areas to go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation by criminals.

NNS Pathfinder will continue to carry out 24-hour patrol of the waterways and creeks, while maintaining presence at flash points.

We are here (on waterways) and on ground determined and prepared to frustrate all forms of illegalities particularly in the Rivers maritime environment,” he assured.

A senior detective of the EFCC, Musa Gidado, who received the 11 suspected oil thieves and vessel, said the commission would conduct thorough investigation on the matter.

Gidado said the suspects would be arraigned if found culpable of the allegations leveled against them.