Tantita arrests vessel conveying ‘stolen crude’ in Bayelsa
Private security firm Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) reports the arrest of the ocean-going vessel MT Kally, transporting thousands of metric tonnes of allegedly stolen crude oil off Bayelsa state.
In a joint operation with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday night, TSSL, owned by Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo, detained the vessel.
The engineer (Promise Eze) and captain (Adeboye David) of MT Kally, along with accomplices from Bayelsa state oil communities, were held onboard as investigations unfolded. Tantita claims the crew and locals were syphoning crude oil from the offshore Sokebolou field before their apprehension.
Preliminary findings by Tantita indicate the vessel’s first manifold was being loaded before the security team intervened. During interrogation, Eze and Adeboye revealed the vessel was mobilized from Lagos for illegal transport of crude oil in Bayelsa. They stated their boss assured them that security agencies along the shore had been compromised, allowing their illicit operations
While the suspects refused to name the compromised security agencies, they disclosed working for a company named San-San. Tantita reported the vessel is currently anchored at an NNPC location in Oporoza, Delta state, with the detainees remaining onboard.
