Ogun Refinery Operation Also Exposed Illegal Alcohol Production, Mining — EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operation that uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State, also exposed suspected unregistered alcohol production, illegal timber exports and unlawful mining activities.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this while giving further details of the commission’s crackdown on suspected economic and environmental crimes during a visit to the place.

The latest disclosure comes days after the commission announced the discovery of the illegal refinery in Ogere, where operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate Two uncovered underground storage tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

The refinery was found deserted when operatives stormed the premises on October 31, following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.

The commission had explained that preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting it to Ogere for processing.

Two of the underground tanks inspected at the facility contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

The EFCC had also linked the refinery discovery to its earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.

Speaking on the wider findings from the operation, Olukoyede said investigators also uncovered facilities suspected of being used for unregistered alcohol production, illegal timber exports and unlawful mining activities.

The commission said the investigations were part of its efforts to tackle suspected economic and environmental crimes, with further inquiries expected to establish the full extent of the activities.