Coast Guard busts international oil-smuggling racket near Mumbai, seizes 3 vessels
India Today
The operation targeted an illicit network involved in the mid-sea transfer of oil cargo sourced from conflict-affected regions, aimed at evading customs duties and maritime regulations.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has busted a major international oil-smuggling syndicate following a meticulously coordinated sea–air operation conducted on 5–6 February 2026, officials said on Thursday.
The operation targeted an illicit network involved in the mid-sea transfer of oil cargo sourced from conflict-affected regions, aimed at evading customs duties and maritime regulations.
According to the ICG, three suspect vessels were intercepted approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after technology-enabled surveillance systems flagged suspicious activity within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
On 06 Feb 26, @IndiaCoastGuard busted an International oil-smuggling racket in a meticulously coordinated sea–air operation. The syndicate exploited mid-sea transfers in international waters to move cheap oil from conflict ridden regions to motor tankers, evading duties owed to pic.twitter.com/erJ31U4xyH
The vessels were believed to be engaged in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil-based cargo in international waters.
“Advanced digital surveillance and data-pattern analysis indicated abnormal vessel behaviour and convergence at sea,” an ICG official said, adding that the inputs prompted immediate deployment of Coast Guard ships and aircraft to the area.
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