Pipeline security firm, Tantita Security Services Limited, yesterday disclosed how a vessel, MT Kali, arrested in Bayelsa State with 119,000 tonnes of stolen crude oil, tried to deceive the surveillance team that it was on test run.
Tantita, owned by Government Ekpemuopolo, alias Tompolo, yesterday, led journalists to the impounded vessel at Oporoza, in Warri South West Local Council of Delta State.
According to Tantita’s Executive Director, Technical and Operations, Warredi Enisuoh, the ship and its crew were arrested due to coordination between Tantita and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to Enisuoh, Tantita became interested in the ship’s activities when intelligence revealed that it had been coming into the Niger Delta region carrying illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil AGO (diesel), as well as ferrying crude to ships on high seas.
He said: “When we got the intelligence, we shared it with the security agencies to ensure the operation was successful. The ship left Lagos a few days ago and switched off its location when it entered the region, and came in to load illegal oil in Bayelsa.
“We notified our base at Sekibolor and deployed drones with infrared capabilities to track the ship. After drones picked up their illegal operation, our team moved in and arrested the ship and crew at Pennington in Bayelsa in the process of discharging the stolen crude through hoses running on the sea bed.”
Enisuoh said there was evidence of good insiders’ job to enable such activities.
He disclosed that when Tantita swooped on the ship, one of the crew members jumped into the sea and “probably drowned”.
Lambasting those campaigning against private pipeline security firms, he described them as the real “illegal bunkerers”.
Captain of the ship, David Adeboye, said the ship had been under repairs for over a year in Lagos and that they set out to the Niger Delta region on test run. He said after the test run they were told to deliver AGO.
Also, the chief engineer, who gave his name as Niyi, said they were directed to carry the illicit products by the owners of the vessel, whom he refused to disclose.
