An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Calabar, Cross River State capital has been arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF) over an alleged oil bunkering.
The outfit tagged: Operation Pulo Shield was established by the Federal authorities to monitor the maritime environment of criminal elements in the Eastern waterways.
It was gathered that the team also uncovered and raided a big oil depot, where diesel was stored in drums in the southern city of Calabar.
According to the Public Relations Officer of 13 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Captain Joseph James, the latest discovery of bunkering and the apprehension of the criminals were as a result of intelligence investigations by the Army.
The army boss noted that the security team, which was led by Major Abdulmaleek Mohammed of the Brigade, nabbed six persons including a serving Police ASP, who was suspected to be one of the illegal oil bunkers.
He said: “Following a tip-off, the Commander of 13 Brigade, Brigadier-General Shehu Yusuf, immediately ordered the JTF to raid the depot, which is in a hideout, off Mesembe Avenue, in the Anantigha area and close to the headquarters of the Calabar South Local Government Area of the state.
“As you can see, there are nearly 8,000 drums of fuel and diesel well arranged here. You can also see how they expertly dredged this canal to enable these boats bring in these products from wherever.
“It appears that the illegal bunkering business had been on for some time before the intelligence report came in,” he added.
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