The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said its operatives from the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 discovered the facility on Saturday, following intelligence and surveillance on the activities of suspected illegal sludge oil refiners.

“The refinery was found deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area,” the commission said. 

It said that waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location.

According to the commission, during the raid, underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing the sludge oil were also discovered.

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

The EFCC said preliminary investigations showed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before transporting it to the facility in Ogere for processing.

It explained that the operators allegedly subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

The commission said security agents at the facility told its operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the refinery.

It added that its operatives had taken over the premises as investigations continued to establish the identities of the operators, ownership of the facility and the extent of the suspected illegal activities.

The EFCC said investigation would also determine the extent of the alleged economic sabotage.