Oil theft: Military, security company intercept massive Turkish vessel with150,000 barrels illegally sourced crude in Delta

The Nigerian military in partnership with Tantita Security Services Ltd says it has intercepted a massive Turkish vessel carrying 150,000 barrels of illegally sourced crude oil in the Escravos sea, Delta State.

Persecondnews reports that the Turkish vessel, was intercepted following high intelligence, support and power from foreign countries.

The vessel now identified as Turatu, after changing names on several occasions in a bid to evade arrest on different occasions, was reported to have been involved in the theft of crude oil from an abandoned oil well off the coast of Escravos.

Persecondnews gathered that the vessel is also one of the reasons Nigeria has been unable to meet its OPEC production quota.

Confirming the arrest, the Operations Manager of Tantita, Warredi Enisuouh, said: “As you know, NNPCL has been at the forefront of oil theft. This vessel has been evading arrest for sometime now

“It has been under the radar of all forces in Nigeria. With high intelligence, support and power from foreign countries, we were able to bring this vessel to book on July 7.

“It does not have any documentation regarding Nigeria. The ship was searched thoroughly and there were no documents showing that the ship was registered in Nigeria.

“Naturally, these ships are very difficult to catch, not many countries in the world have the capacity to do so, but fortunately Nigeria has the capacity to do so.”