The Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe has intercepted eight barges smuggling over 100,000 litres of adulterated diesel in Rivers.

Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, OPDS, Real Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, disclosed this while presenting the seized barges and petroleum product to newsmen in Bonny on Sunday.

He said the vessels containing adulterated diesel were impounded by security forces during a stop-and-search operation across several creeks.

Represented by OPDS Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, Ferreira said the seizure was in-line with the task forces’ mandate to rid the Niger Delta of crude oil theft and criminality.

“The seizures were done as part of the directives given to OPDS by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, to ensure total eradication of crude oil theft.

“Acting on this directive, the OPDS pushed further its operations resulting in the arrest of eight barges laden with suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).

“The barges cumulatively had over 100,000 litres of diesel stored inside different compartments in Bonny area, Rivers State,” he said.

He said no arrest had been made but that troops were currently on the trail of the operators of the seized vessel.

“OPDS in collaboration with other security agencies within the joint operation areas will not relent in our efforts to ensure that crude oil theft is stopped at all costs.

“Those involved in this illegal activity should look out for legitimate business to do because we will not relent until they are caught and stopped,” he added.