The Nigerian Navy has uncovered 119,850 litres of crude oil suspected to have been stolen at an illegal refining site in Ogbogolo Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The discovery was made on Thursday, September 17, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following credible intelligence on activities at the site.
Also recovered were 350 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 25 parcels of suspected Cannabis sativa.
The suspected stolen crude oil was found stored in five dugout pits, while the illegally refined AGO was recovered in six sacks. The Navy said no arrest was made as the suspects fled the area after sighting the naval personnel.
The recovered petroleum products and suspected illicit substances were subsequently handled in accordance with extant regulations.
The latest operation comes shortly after the conviction of nine crude oil thieves by the Federal High Court in Uyo following their arrest during a Nigerian Navy-led operation under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The Navy said the development underscores the growing impact of the operation, which combines sustained maritime and riverine interdictions with intelligence-led operations to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across the Niger Delta.
According to the Navy, the successive operational gains and successful prosecution of offenders demonstrate the significance of its sustained efforts under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The operation, it added, is not only focused on recovering stolen petroleum products but also on degrading the infrastructure supporting the illicit trade while strengthening the process from detection and interdiction to prosecution and conviction.
