They were arrested on Thursday during an operation of naval personnel of the base at the river near Kantu village in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The naval operatives, during the exercise, also destroyed nine illegal refineries and 700 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil.
The exercise lasted for about four hours at the deep forest of Kantu village.
Commander of NNS DELTA, Commodore Aliyu Abawa Sule, while briefing journalists, said things that were also destroyed were three generating sets and five water pumps used by the illegal refineries operators in the creeks.
Commodore Aliyu gave the names of the suspects as Peter Mde (25 years) and Peter Agwu (23 years).
He said they were on a boat laden with kegs of locally-refined kerosene from illegal refineries when they were arrested.
According to the naval boss, the delay and long process in the prosecution of suspects of illegal refineries had been a major setback to the effectiveness of arresting the economic sabotage.
He debunked poverty as the reason often advanced by perpetrators for engaging in the crime.
It will be recalled that a fortnight ago, a number of illegal refineries were discovered and destroyed at an expanse of land in Kantu forest.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects, Peter Agwu, said he was hired by one Madam Sola to convey six drums of kerosene from the illegal refinery to Warri at a fee.
The 23-year-old SS3 student of Ogbe-Ijoh Grammar School, Ogbe-Ijoh, said he was out to hustle for money ahead of resumption at school.
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