According to Mehr’s news agency, Mojtaba Ghahremani, the Supreme Court Justice of Hormozgan, has announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker on charges of smuggling two million litres of fuel in the Sea of Oman.
Details including the vessel’s nationality and destination were not immediately revealed.
Ghalemani said enforcement agents have inspected foreign oil tankers following ongoing monitoring of suspicious fuel smuggling activities along Iran’s maritime border in the Sea of Oman. Due to incomplete legal documents on the cargo, the ship was seized on suspicion of carrying smuggled fuel.
A lawsuit has been opened at related agencies in the town of Jask, and a judicial investigation is underway.
Ghalemani added that 17 people, including the tanker’s captain and crew, are in custody as part of the legal process.
He further noted that the authorities were determining the exact amount of fuel cargo, conducting sampling and clinical testing, and gathering evidence to verify the vessel’s documents. The judicial authorities will announce the results of the lawsuit once the investigation is complete.
MNA/6531150