The Nigerian Navy has seized the tanker Filia and detained its 12 crewmembers after accusing the vessel of illegally loading crude oil from an offshore facility.
According to the navy, MV Filia remained under surveillance for more than a week before a patrol vessel intercepted it on 23 July as it attempted to leave the area. Authorities allege the tanker loaded crude oil without the required authorization or documentation.
Naval officers stopped the vessel at about 04:00 local time. They claim the crew began discharging crude oil overboard during the interception in an attempt to destroy evidence, causing marine pollution. After boarding the tanker, inspectors found about 650 metric tonnes of crude oil, valued at around US$490,000, and nearly 33 metric tonnes of fuel oil.
Authorities detained the São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged tanker and its entire crew pending further investigation. Nigerian officials said a Hong Kong-based company acquired the vessel earlier this year after it had operated under the Chinese flag for many years.
Built in 1993, MV Filia is a 3,158-dwt coastal tanker. Authorities have not identified the source of the crude oil or said whether they are investigating other parties.
The seizure is part of the Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sentinel, which targets oil theft, illegal refining and attacks on petroleum infrastructure. Between April and June, the operation recovered more than 4.7 million litres of petroleum products and dismantled 58 illegal refining sites.
