Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Dec 13: Iranian authorities on Saturday detained 18 crew members of a foreign tanker seized in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the vessel of carrying six million liters of smuggled fuel.
The detained crew, including the captain, hail from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Iranian media reported, citing the Hormozgan province judiciary.
The authorities said the tanker had violated regulations by ignoring stop orders, attempting to flee, and lacking proper navigation and cargo documentation.
Fuel smuggling has been a persistent issue for Iran, where heavily subsidized domestic fuel and a weak currency have fueled illicit trade by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.