...As US Coast Guard and Navy Intercept Nigerian Supertanker on Suspicion of Oil Theft and Ties to International Crime Networks

The US Coast Guard and Navy intercepted the Nigerian supertanker Skipper in December 2025 on suspicions of crude oil theft, piracy, and drug trafficking, with links to Iranian and Islamist money-laundering networks. The story was publicized on December 12, 2025 on national news papers

The 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with IMO Number 9304667 has the capacity to carry up to 2.2 million barrels of crude oil is reportedly owned and managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., while its registered owner is Triton Navigation Corp. from the Marshall Islands; authorities stated the tanker was illegally flying the Guyanese flag at the time of its arrest, and a check with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja revealed that Thomarose is inactive, with its corporate address at 111 Jakpa Road, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, and CAC registration number 1007876, but there are no phone numbers associated with the company.

The story takes an interesting turn when an investigative reporter said a man named Thomas Mackistosh gave his company's papers to the Tompolo's group (Government Ekpomupolo, Mathew Tonlagha, Kestin Pondi) for an business venture over Four years ago. They promised to update him if things worked out, but to his surprise, Mackistosh found his business name and address linked to illegal international oil theft issues associated with the Nigerian-owned vessel, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with IMO Number 9304667, which was reportedly to be owned by him and managed by his Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd.

Thomas Mackistosh denies any involvement in managing the vessel, stating that he only provided his company papers to the Tompolo's group for business over Four years ago, and they never contacted him again. He was shocked to discover online that his company was allegedly managing a multimillion-dollar illegal oil deal without his knowledge. Mackistosh, now struggling financially after selling all his fuel stations, expressed his distress, feeling victimized by people who have placed him in this predicament without his consent. 

He futher stated that he fears arrest by authorities and worries that those using his company name for illegal activities may try to silence him to cover their crimes. Reports indicate that he is very poor and barely able to feed his family, yet they exploited his company for illicit operations. The situation suggests that Tompolo and Mathew Tonlagha are owners to the vessel, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with IMO Number 9304667, which is reportedly managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd, a company document that was given to Tompolo and his men as they were the ones who approached Thomas Mackistosh for business.

When NIMASA was asked about the incident, they stated that they had no official information on the matter. The agency’s spokesman, Mr. Edward Osagie, informed newsmen to submit an official inquiry, assuring that it would be addressed appropriately. It's concerning that NIMASA seems to be ignoring the issue, especially given that a supertanker is loaded from the Nigerian Export Terminal without them having any record of it. This raises suspicions of a conspiracy in collusion with other state actors in the theft of Nigeria's crude oil for sale in international waters.

RNG247 Analysis stated that it is evident that the Tompolo's group and others in the oil and gas industry have been employing a strategy of loading illegal vessels that are not verified for loading at the terminals or listed in the NNPCL activity database. It's clear that such vessels are prevalent, stealing Nigeria's crude oil daily without benefiting the nation, with the proceeds ending up in the pockets of these significant oil criminals.

Matthew Tonlagha and Government Epkpemupolo, both chairmen of Maton Engineering and Tantita Security Services, have been at the forefront of the oil cabal, controlling the oil pipeline surveillance contracts. They reportedly amassed a staggering sum of approximately 2.3 trillion naira in one year. 

One may wonder why Nigeria's oil production remains low, at about 1.3 to 1.4 million barrels per day, and fails to exceed that threshold. The reason lies in the ongoing large-scale crude oil theft occurring offshore, similar to operations managed illegally by Mathew and Tompolo Thomarose. Nigeria's oil production struggles to reach 1.5 million barrels per day, and it seems unlikely we'll ever hit 2 million. It's worth recalling that during the tenures of Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, production exceeded 2 million barrels per day. However, since the late Buhari appointed Mele Kyari to power, we have witnessed a significant decline in the nation's oil production, a trend that has persisted due to systems put in place to facilitate the ongoing theft of Nigeria’s crude oil.

It is a now evidence that the short fall of Nigeria crude oil don't happen in the creeks of the Niger Delta, and those smaller vessels arrested by Mathew Tonlagha and Tompolo are just for media stunt to decievce Nigerians by covering their illegal criminal act of stealing Nigeria crude oil.

In addition to Tantita and Maton Engineering goes home with approximately 2.3 trillion naira annually, these individuals are also stealing our crude oil from loading terminals offshore, facilitated by some NNPCL officials positioned for that purpose.  

Nigerians need to rise and demand accountability; otherwise, we will never progress as a nation.