Iran seized a foreign tanker on Monday evening, saying it was smuggling fuel in the Persian Gulf, and detained 12 of its crew, the Revolutionary Guard said.
“The navy has seized a Togolese-flagged oil tanker in the waters of the Persian Gulf that was carrying more than 1.5 million liters of contraband oil,” the Revolutionary Guard’s website Sepah News reported.
Iranian forces regularly announce the seizure of ships illegally transporting fuel in the Persian Gulf.
“The ship was transferred to the port of Bushehr (southwest) with 12 crew members, citizens of India and Sri Lanka,” the same source added.
In late January, Iran seized another ship “flagged by an Oceanian country” carrying two million liters of fuel smuggled into the same area and detained 14 crew members, local media reported.
Fuel prices in Iran are among the lowest in the world, making its transportation to other countries even more profitable.
In early May, seven crew members of a Portuguese-flagged ship seized by Iran in April were released.
The Portuguese-flagged MSC Aires (registered in the Autonomous Region of Madeira) was seized on April 13 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on suspicion of being linked to the Zodiac Maritime Limited group, part-owned by Israeli millionaire Eyal Ofer.
The vessel was owned by Fortal Shipping Inc and chartered by container shipping company MSC. There were 25 crew members on board, most of whom were Indian.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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