The Western Naval Command, in collaboration with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has impounded eight modified large canoes, locally known as “Dendes,” allegedly used for illegal bunkering activities offshore.
One of the vessels was set ablaze in the presence of the media, while authorities announced plans to destroy the remaining seven vessels.
Speaking to Citi News at the Western Naval Command in Sekondi on Friday, May 15, where the vessels were being destroyed, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, said the authority has a robust monitoring system for tracking tankers involved in illegal activities.
“The authority has a very robust system — in fact, a robust command centre that allows us to track every bulk road vehicle. But this one, how are you going to track them?” he said.
He explained that, unlike fuel transported through recognised depots and monitored routes, the modified canoes operate secretly and outside conventional systems.
“The essence of the tracking is to ensure that whatever product is moving, we are able to monitor it because it moves from dedicated depots. But with these canoes, you don’t know the source depot,” he stated.
Mr Tameklo further noted that the operation was intelligence-led, as the suspects conduct their activities mainly at night and in a clandestine manner.
“They don’t operate during the day. They operate in a very clandestine manner. Thankfully, because we are working with the security agencies, they have the skill set to lead these operations through intelligence. We have eight of them,” he added.
According to him, each of the canoes has the capacity to carry about 54,000 litres of fuel.
He said the destruction of the vessels is intended to serve as a deterrent to others engaged in illegal bunkering.
Mr Tameklo also disclosed that the next operation will be conducted at the Eastern Naval Command in Tema Newtown.
He stressed that the NPA and the Government of Ghana will not tolerate illicit fuel activities within the country’s territorial waters.
“We’ll be doing the next one [impounding] at the Eastern Naval Command in Tema Newtown. Because we want to send a clear message that enough is enough,” he warned.
