OMAN: Iranian authorities have detained 18 crew members of a foreign tanker seized in the Gulf of Oman on Friday for allegedly carrying six million litres of smuggled fuel, Iranian media reported on Saturday, citing the Hormozgan province judiciary.
Those detained as part of the ongoing investigation include the vessel’s captain. The semi-official Fars news agency said the crew members are nationals of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
According to Iranian authorities, the tanker committed multiple violations, including ignoring stop orders, attempting to flee, and operating without proper navigation and cargo documentation.
Iran, which has some of the world’s lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the sharp depreciation of its national currency, has been intensifying efforts to curb widespread fuel smuggling. Illicit fuel trade has surged both overland to neighbouring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.
— Menna Alaa El-Din
