The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Saturday announced that it has busted a global syndicate involved in illegal oil trade. This syndicate operated through a complex network of multiple operators located in various international jurisdictions.
The coordinated sea-air operation, concluded on Friday, February 6, targeted a missile responsible for transporting significant amounts of oil and oil-derived cargo from war-torn areas. This cargo was then transferred mid-ocean to motorized tankers in international territory for commercial profit Indian Coast Guard he said.
Smugglers managed the trade exchange and transshipment of goods between various sea vessels.
According to ICGthree specific ships were stopped and boarded by Coast Guard vessels approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on 5 February.
“Three vessels were intercepted by ICG ships on February 5, about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai, and through a continuous search, confirmation of electronic data on board the suspect vessels and document verification and interrogation of the crew, the ICG specialist team established a chain of incidents and a criminal statement,” the Indian Coast Guard said.
After exhaustive searches, verification of documents, synchronization of digital records found on the vessels and questioning of sailors, the ICG Tactical Boarding Unit successfully reconstructed the sequence of events and the forensic methodology used.
The Coast Guard noted that its high-tech monitoring infrastructure first spotted a motor tanker making questionable maneuvers in India’s exclusive economic zone, triggering a comprehensive digital forensic probe.
Subsequent analysis of traffic patterns involving vessels approaching the tanker revealed two other suspect ships involved in unauthorized mid-sea offloading of oil cargo, a tactic used to circumvent high tariffs demanded by littoral nations, including India.
“The ICG conducted data pattern analysis of other vessels approaching the vessel and identified two other vessels as possible suspects involved in the illegal movement of oil cargo at sea, evading significant duties owed to coastal states, including India,” the statement said.
On February 5, specialized ICG units boarded the vessels and confirmed the electronic evidence, leading to their seizure. Initial investigations showed that the ships regularly changed their names and markings to circumvent the maritime authorities of different countries. The registered owners of the ships are said to be overseas.
The boats are expected to be towed to Mumbai for further questioning and handed over to the Indian Customs and relevant police departments for formal judicial processing.
The Indian Coast Guard noted that the mission, which began with electronic surveillance and was carried out with increasing maritime reach, reinforces India’s position as a major contributor to maritime security and an upholder of international regulatory norms.