The Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Tantita Security Services on Monday, intercepted a vessel ladened with about 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
The vessel was caught off the coast of the Gbaramatu Kingdom area of Warri in Delta State and brought to the Oporoza area where investigation will begin.
The vessel is said to be capable of carrying 350,000 litres of raw crude.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, in company of top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited inspected the vessel.
The joint sting operation also arrested 23 suspects during the operation.
Meanwhile, the CDS assured the NNPCL and Nigerians that the Chief of Defence Intelligence would commence investigation immediately to unravel the criminals behind the act.
However, the Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, decried the brazen level at which crude oil theft has escalated in the past few months despite the efforts being made to increase crude oil production in the country and jack up government revenue.
