Soyo: The Northern Naval Region Command of the Angolan Navy (MGA) reiterated on Monday, in the town of Soyo, Zaire Province, that it would step up patrols and surveillance along the coastline to deter and combat recurring infringements in territorial waters.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Vice-Admiral Orlando Matias dos Santos Ramos, commander of the MGA's Northern Naval Region, presented a review of activities conducted over the past month, emphasizing the operations aimed at addressing infringements along the coastline and the River Zaire. The patrol and enforcement mission spans 180 nautical miles from Lagoa do Massabi in Cabinda province to the mouth of the River Loge in Nzeto, Zaire province, including the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The operations are primarily focused on tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, the unauthorized presence of artisanal fishermen near oil platforms, and fuel smuggling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
To enhance mission effectiveness, the Northern Naval Region has received modern naval assets as part of efforts to modernize, restructure, and re-equip the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA). 'The Government has been investing systematically in the modernisation of the Angolan Navy's assets, enabling a more effective response to incidents in territorial waters, both on rivers and at sea,' Vice-Admiral Ramos stated.
The protection and surveillance of national territorial waters are crucial, as they are strategic for the country's economy, hosting a significant portion of oil production and facilitating international trade.
In an operational review, Vice-Admiral Ramos reported that since June, naval forces have seized four fibreglass vessels used for fuel smuggling to the DRC. Additionally, 44,375 litres of fuel were confiscated, and nine Angolan nationals were arrested for illegal fishing in restricted oil block areas.
Other seizures during this period included two three-wheeled motorbikes used for illegal fuel transport, 25 small generators, six Yamaha outboard motors, and other equipment. The detainees were referred to the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), and the confiscated items were forwarded to the Attorney General's Office (PGR) for legal proceedings.
