By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
Troops of Operations Calm Waters ll and Swift Response had on 16 August, 2020,arrested 7 smugglers at Agbana- West by the Nigerian-Cameroun maritime border with a wooden boat containing 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice among other items heading to Cameroun.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ, Maj. Gen. John Enenche said, troops operating in South South and South West zones had continue to dominate the area due to its efforts in cracking down on the pipeline Vandals, rice smugglers, pirates, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the zones.
According to him, the 7 suspects together with the items have been handed over to Operation Border Drill for further investigation.
Maj. Gen. Enenche stated this during a routine media briefing to intimate journalists on the successes recorded by the troops on their military operations across the country in Abuja.
He maintained that, the briefing was to cover the milestones achievements by the troops in the month of August, 2020.
He noted that, the South South and west zones have continue to be dominated by the clearance operations by the troops.
He further said, more successes had been recorded in the zone with the launch of Operation Silent Heat, a subsidiary of Operation Delta Safe by the DHQ on 1 August, 2020 which was aimed at protecting the critical installations, key points and vital point, combat of all illegalities and crimes in SS with a view to creating a conducive environment for the oil and gas industries and other economic activities to thrive.
This, he said has led to the interception of speed boat and rescue of 13 foreigners consisting of 7 Russians and 6 Ukrainians alleged to have been kidnapped by pirates in Lome Waters. Both the 13 foreigners as well as 4 Nigerians have been handed over to the authorities for further investigations.
Explaining further ,the DMO Coordinator said, troops of Operations Delta Safe, Swift Response, Calm Waters ll operating in S/South and that of Awatse in the S/West zones had continued to crack down on pipeline vandals, smugglers, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the two zones.
This ,according to him had led to several Successes recorded, among whom were the impounding of boats, arrest of vandals, deactivation of illegal refineries, recovery of millions and thousands of litres of fuel, AGO, crude oil and rice
“Within the month of August, several arrests were made by troops of Operation Delta Safe; large quantities of stolen crude oil as well as other petroleum products were impounded.
“Cumulatively, a total of One Million Three Hundred and Nine (1,309,000) litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 1,824.04 barrels of stolen crude oil and Three Hundred and Two Thousand (302,000) litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were recovered in the month of August 2020 in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Rivers States.
“Additionally, a total of 344 bags of smuggled parboiled rice were impounded in the zone.
“From these successes, it is clear that, troops of Operation Delta Safe and other security agencies working together remain resolute and dedicated in their endeavor to end the fight against economic sabotage. ”
