The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a warehouse containing about 10,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in the Eleme Express area of Rivers State, disrupting a suspected storage and distribution point within the illicit petroleum supply chain.
The discovery was made on 12 September 2026 by operatives of NNS PATHFINDER during a patrol of the Eleme–Okrika–Onne general area as part of ongoing operations against crude oil theft and illegal petroleum activities.
The product, stored in 400 jerrycans of 25 litres each, was suspected to have been sourced from locations outside the immediate community and stockpiled for onward sale to buyers.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, no illegal refining site was found at the location, indicating that the facility was allegedly being used primarily for the storage and distribution of the products.
Folorunsho said the operation was significant beyond the volume recovered, as it disrupted a critical link in the illicit petroleum supply chain by denying operators a facility to accumulate and move illegally refined products to the market.
He added that the seizure would help constrain the commercial network sustaining illegal refining activities in the area.
The recovered products were subsequently handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
No arrest was made during the operation, as the suspected operators reportedly fled upon sighting the naval patrol team.
