The Central Naval Command, following an intelligence tip off has arrested Merchant Tanker (MT) DERA 1 and a Tugboat runner, Charley with 11 crew members on board at Eremor 1 Marginal Oil Field located off Peretorugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The Merchant Tanker, DERA 1 was laden with 6,000 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil.

Speaking at the scene of the arrest, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman said preliminary investigation is currently ongoing.

He reiterated that "the barge was arrested at a point where there was no loading point. But rather the crude was suspected to be stolen from well head at the Eremor 1 Marginal Field."

In furtherance, the Flag Officer Commanding said there would be no hiding place for oil thieves within the Command's area of responsibility as the Command has intensified patrol of her area of responsibility.

"Admiral Suleiman has recorded tremendous success in the fight against crude oil theft barely 2 weeks on assumption of office. This feat he has achieved based on the zero tolerance on crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and other sundry crimes in Central Naval Command Area of Responsibility," a statement made available to Ceoafrica read.

He said, the Navy will continue to make the illegal business of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other sundry crimes unattractive.

The Flag Officer Commanding further warned that oil thieves should desist from all forms of illegalities and get involved in meaningful and legitimate businesses.