Personnel of the Nigerian Navy operating under the Eastern Naval Command have intercepted a foreign-flagged oil vessel, MT FILIA, off the coast of Akwa Ibom State and arrested 12 crew members over their alleged involvement in crude oil theft valued at more than ₦660 million.

The high-seas interdiction highlights ongoing armed forces operations aimed at curtailing maritime crime, safeguarding national economic assets, and curbing illegal bunkering within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

Briefing journalists at the operational headquarters in Calabar, the Command Operations Officer, Commodore A.A. Umar, disclosed that the vessel was intercepted at approximately 4:00 a.m. on July 23. Executed under the specialized naval mandate code-named Operation Delta Sentinel, the interception took place near the Utue offshore terminal jacket following continuous tracking and intelligence gathered by maritime surveillance assets.

At the time of the naval boarding, the tanker—sailing under the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe—was found to be carrying an estimated 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil in addition to 32.82 metric tonnes of heavy fuel oil.

Official inspections revealed that the vessel and its crew were operating without valid authorization, crude transportation permits, or required maritime documentation from relevant federal regulatory agencies.

Upon realizing they were being cornered by naval patrol forces, the crew initiated a frantic attempt to destroy evidence by discharging the stolen crude oil directly into the open ocean. This deliberate act of sabotage failed to prevent the vessel’s capture but triggered localized marine pollution, prompting naval authorities to document the environmental damage alongside the criminal infractions.

Following the successful takeover of the vessel, MT FILIA, its stolen cargo, and all twelve arrested crew members were escorted under heavy security to naval custody for further processing. The Nigerian Navy confirmed that a comprehensive inter-agency investigation is currently underway, after which the suspects and evidence will be handed over to appropriate legal authorities for formal prosecution in court.