Iran seizes foreign tanker carrying smuggled fuel in Gulf of Oman

Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker carrying six million litres of smuggled diesel fuel in the Gulf of Oman, the head of the Hormozgan Province Justice Department, Mojtaba Ghahremani, said.

According to Ghahremani, Iranian judicial officers intercepted the vessel on December 12 in waters under Iran’s sovereignty near Jask as part of a crackdown on organised fuel-smuggling networks, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

He said the tanker lacked maritime documentation for its voyage and did not have a bill of lading for the fuel cargo.

Gahremani added that the vessel had switched off all navigation and auxiliary navigation systems.

The tanker has 18 crew members, all nationals of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev