Nigerian Navy Recovers Suspected Crude Oil Theft Vessel

The Nigerian Navy has found a vessel believed to be involved in illicit crude export, which is being hailed as a major victory in the fight against organized crude oil theft.

The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) known as MT Heroic Idun is the size of three ordinary football fields, measuring 336 meters in length and 60 meters in breadth.

On August 8th, while attempting to forcibly take crude oil from the Akpo offshore oil field, it was confronted.

Despite several efforts at capture, it managed to get away and make it to open water, where Equatorial Guinean officials were able to intercept and take her.

The vessel has now been turned over to the Nigerian government following months of intense bilateral diplomatic negotiations between the two African nations. The Navy’s leadership hasn’t spoken to the media as of this writing, but they have promised a thorough statement for Monday.