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The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has busted an international oil smuggling syndicate in a coordinated sea–air operation off the west coast, officials said on Thursday.
Three vessels were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on February 5 after Coast Guard surveillance systems flagged suspicious activity involving a motor tanker operating inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Investigators said the syndicate was smuggling large volumes of low-cost oil and oil-based cargo sourced from conflict-hit regions. The cargo was transferred mid-sea to motor tankers in international waters to evade duties and regulatory checks.
Based on digital tracking and data pattern analysis, the Coast Guard identified two additional vessels converging on the tanker as possible participants in illicit ship-to-ship transfers. Specialist boarding teams were deployed to all three vessels for inspection.
During sustained searches, document verification, analysis of electronic data, and questioning of crew members, the Coast Guard established the chain of events and the modus operandi of the network, officials said.
Preliminary findings indicate that the vessels frequently changed their identities to avoid detection by coastal state authorities. The vessel owners are based in foreign countries and are linked to handlers operating across multiple jurisdictions, who coordinated the sale and transfer of cargo at sea.
The intercepted vessels are likely to be escorted to Mumbai for further investigation and handed over to Indian Customs and other law enforcement agencies for follow-up action.
The Coast Guard said the operation underscored the growing role of digital surveillance combined with an expanded maritime presence, reinforcing India’s position as a key provider of maritime security and an enforcer of the rules-based order at sea.
Team BharatShakti
