EXCLUSIVE: Navy Arrests Vessel Laden with Suspected Toxic Waste

The captain, second and third mate of the vessel; Mrs. Claudia Mondino,
Raffaele Dimartino and the Eugenio Ruffo

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, a base under the Western Naval Command (WNC), yesterday handed over a vessel, MV EUROCARGO SALERNO, suspected to be laden with toxic wastes to the Nigerian Maritime Administration  and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for further investigation.

The vessel and its crew were apprehended on Wednesday, June 19, at Breakwater at her berthing position of about 1648 and escorted to AMPL Terminal 12, Tincan Island Port, Apapa, Lagos, where they were questioned as to the contents of the vessel.

At the directive of the Flag Officer Commanding, WNC, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, the navy also apprehended the captain, second and third mate of the vessel; Mrs. Claudia Mondino, Raffaele Dimartino and the Eugenio Ruffo, respectively and they were brought to the base for questioning.

It was gathered that the vessel was conveying containers  from Belgium among which were three trucks fully loaded with  used fridges suspected to be toxic in nature, which contravenes the Harmful Waste Act 2004.

According to the Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of the vessel was originally on June 11, but it was not sighted on Nigerian Waters till Wednesday afternoon.

He noted that the vessel was arrested based on a tip off to the National Environmental Standard Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) by a confidential source who disclosed that the vessel was loaded with three trucks fully loaded with toxic waste.