LAGOS (Reuters) - The main buyers of the 180,000 barrels of oil that thieves steal from Nigeria each day are organized criminal networks in the Balkans and refiners in Singapore, according to a former presidential advisor who launched a campaign against the practice on Monday.
Cole said much of the oil sold had been traced to criminal networks in the Balkans, especially Ukraine, Serbia, and Bulgaria, better known for things like cigarette smuggling or trafficking sex workers.
"On the evidence we have, the Balkan mafia organizations are well represented in Nigeria ... You can't chase these guys easily. They're as slippery as the proverbial eel."
Singapore, the world's top refiner, was also taking a large chunk. He urged Nigeria to confront Singaporean authorities. Full story
