Iran seizes a ship with 382,000 liters of smuggled fuel in waters near the Persian Gulf

The head of the Border Guard of the Iranian province of Khuzestan, Sardar Hojat Sefid Posut, announced this Wednesday the seizure of an oil tanker carrying 382,000 liters of smuggled fuel in waters near the Persian Gulf.

“The Abadan border guards, by forming several rapid response operational teams, quickly moved to the location in territorial waters, identified the vessel in question and seized it in a rapid operation,” he explained, as reported by the Mehr news agency.

The authorities have detained eleven foreign sailors, without revealing their nationalities, and have opened an investigation. “Experts estimate the approximate value of the discovered fuel shipment at more than 570,000 million rials (357,600 euros), which were delivered to the competent authorities,” he added.

Iran has carried out dozens of seizures of ships in recent years, one of the world’s main maritime trafficking routes, arguing that they were transporting smuggled fuel and alleging violations of maritime navigation regulations.