Operation WATERGUARD: NNS BEECROFT Arrests Boat with over 800 Cans of 30 Litres Stolen PMS

Chiemelie Ezeobi 

In a feat of maritime security prowess, under the ongoing Operation WATER GUARD, The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT Patrol Team in collaboration with the Forward Operating Base Badagry, have arrested a wooden boat with over 800 jerrycans of stolen 30 litres PMS. 

They were aided by seamless integration of credible human intelligence HUMINT and effective utilisation of The Maritime Domain Awareness Facility The Falcon eye Alignment.

This was under the strategic leadership of the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT and Maritime Component Commander, Operation AWATSE, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga. 

The operatives successfully intercepted a huge wooden boat, laden with over 800 Jerricans of 30 Litres each containing products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit  (PMS).

The boat was sailing seaward 80 nautical miles from the shore very close to the boundary between Nigeria and Benin Republic, in the early hours of Friday, January 19, 2024.

This successful arrest aligns with key priorities of the Strategic Directives of Vice Admiral EI Angela, Chief of the Naval Staff, emphasising the Navy’s  unweaving commitment to curbing crime and criminality within the nations maritime environment for economic prosperity of our dear nation.

 Commodore Oguntuga further stated that the Nigerian Navy will sustain dominance of the maritime space leveraging technology and other means to curb illegalities and appeal to Nigerians not to relent at providing credible information necessary to ensure the maritime environment is safe for legitimate businesses to thrive.