JTF Apprehends Two Suspects for Forging Documents to Sell Stolen Crude Oil

In a significant breakthrough against illegal oil activities, the Joint Task Force (JTF) known as Operation Delta Safe has apprehended two suspects involved in the production of fake documents used to facilitate the sale of stolen crude oil in the Niger Delta region. The suspects, identified as Magaji Musa and Umar Musa, were arrested during a raid on their residence in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Briefing journalists at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, JTF Commander John Okeke detailed the operation that led to the arrest. “This syndicate specialized in creating counterfeit documents for stolen crude oil within the Operation Delta Safe Joint Operation Area,” he stated. “Their actions have enabled oil thieves to avoid detection and continue their illegal operations, significantly contributing to the persistence of illegal oil bunkering in the region.” The JTF’s operation, which was based on credible intelligence, uncovered a cache of forged documents, including fake stamps from various associations, counterfeit waybills, and forged identity cards at the suspects’ residence. These items were used to provide false legitimacy to the sale and transport of stolen crude oil, allowing the syndicate to operate undetected for years. Commander Okeke further revealed that the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the illegal trade, admitting to procuring fake waybills and engaging in the illegal sale and diversion of crude oil from pipelines. The JTF is currently holding the culprits in custody and has vowed to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

Addressing the ongoing efforts to combat oil-related crimes, Commander Okeke reaffirmed the JTF’s commitment to eradicating criminal activities in the oil-producing region. “We will leave no stone unturned until criminality is eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum in the Niger Delta,” he declared, emphasizing the JTF’s resolve to stamp out illegal oil refining and vandalism of oil facilities. In a startling admission, Musa, identified as the ring leader of the syndicate, confessed to journalists that he had been involved in the stolen crude oil business since 2011. This confession sheds light on the long-standing challenges faced by authorities in curbing illegal oil activities in the region.

The JTF’s recent success in apprehending these suspects is a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against oil theft and its associated crimes. As the investigation continues, the JTF remains vigilant, ensuring that those involved in such illegal activities are brought to justice.