WANA (Jul 16) – A foreign oil tanker carrying 2 million liters of smuggled fuel has been seized in the Sea of Oman, and 17 crew members have been detained, Iranian judicial authorities announced.

 

Mojtaba Ghahremani, Chief Justice of Hormozgan Province, stated that the seizure was carried out as part of ongoing surveillance efforts to monitor suspicious fuel smuggling activities in Iran’s southern maritime borders.

 

Upon inspection, judicial enforcement officers found the vessel’s documentation incomplete and seized the tanker on charges of transporting illegal fuel.

 

“A criminal case has been opened at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in the city of Jask, and the legal proceedings are underway,” Ghahremani confirmed.

Foreign Oil Tanker Seized with 2M Liters of Smuggled Fuel in Iran. Social media/ WANA News Agency

The detained individuals include the ship’s captain and 16 crew members, who are currently being held for further investigation and legal processing.

 

Authorities are currently collecting evidence to determine the exact volume of the cargo, conducting fuel sampling and laboratory tests, and verifying the validity of the tanker’s documents. Results of the investigation will be announced by the judiciary upon completion.

 

In a firm statement, Ghahremani added:

 

“Fuel smuggling operations—particularly those conducted in coordination with foreign actors and aimed at looting national resources—will not escape the intelligence radar of the judiciary and enforcement agencies. If proven guilty, perpetrators of such crimes will face strict and uncompromising punishment.”

Foreign Oil Tanker Seized with 2M Liters of Smuggled Fuel in Iran. Social media/ WANA News Agency