The authorities of the Merchant Navy Mernacscan, a quasi-military organisation operating on Nigerian waterways, has confirmed the arrest of 15 sea pirates by its officials within the last two weeks in Rivers State.
The Director-General of the organisation, Captain John I. Williams, who disclosed this in an interview with The Tide at its training base, Isaka, said that those arrested have been handed over to the police for prosecution.
Captain Williams also said that the organisation has intercepted various vessels used by illegal oil bunkerers to siphon products, adding that officials of the organisation had been instructed not to burn the vessels in order not to spill the contents into the rivers.
According to him, contents of arrested vessels are usually sent to the appropriate authorities for recycling.
He, however, said that the effort of the organisation in achieving reasonable degree of success in the reduction of illegal oil bunkering is being hampered by the activities of the buyers who are mostly ‘big boys’.
Capt Williams reasoned that, if the government can check the activities of the buyers of the products from illegal oil bunkerers, the rate of involvement in the illicit trade will be reduced, adding that the quasi-military outfit is ready to do everything possible to assist the country overcome the challenges posed by illegal oil bunkering.
He also commended the activities of its officers and men in helping to check the operations of pirates, especially on the waterways across Rivers State.
According to him, “its men have been posted to creeks and rivers to check pirates, stressing that the group will not fail in its duty of securing the waterways for business to thrives.
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Merchant Navy Arrests 15 Sea Pirates
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