The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Victory patrol team on a routine patrol intercepted a wooden boat laden with 144 drums of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined diesel around Agbana West by Tom Shot Island Breakwaters along the waterways of Cross River State.
Commander of the NNS Victory team, Rear Admiral Vincent Okeke, represented by Captain Muhammad Umaru, briefed newsmen of the seizure while handing over the suspects to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Calabar.
The suspects, one Cameroonian named Daniel Nekoli and three Nigerians, named Emma Effiong, Victor Okon and Kingsley Etim.
The naval official put the market value of the seized items at N15,504,000.
He said within the last eight weeks, the NNS Victory has made nine seizures worth over N236,236,000.
The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River State, Danladi Elisha took delivery of the four suspects and items. He assured that the suspects would be prosecuted.