Ghana Navy arrests tanker with hijacked crude

The Ghana Navy has arrested an oil tanker, MV Madina that attempted to discharge hijacked crude oil from Nigeria at the Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited (SPOCL).

Mr Quincy Sintim Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of SPOCL, who had earlier received information about the hijacked crude from the owners, directed that the vessel MV Madina should be tied up to prevent it from escaping until the Navy ships arrived.

The Owners of MV Madina told GNA, that the vessel was engaged in lifting crude oil from a marginal oil producing field in Nigeria into a bigger vessel, MV North Wind Grace but the Captain and the crew conspired to hijack it while laden with crude oil.

They said they began to trace the vessel and alerted the Benin and Ghanaian Security.

They said they informed Mr Aboagye about the incident, who confirmed that the Vessel was at SPOCL and they pleaded with him to detain the vessel until the Navy moved in to arrest it.

The Owners said they would file the necessary papers to reclaim their oil and the vessel at the courts on Monday.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel M’Bawine Atintande told the media that guards have been placed on the vessel.