Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Nov 30: Iranian authorities on Sunday seized an Eswatini-flagged vessel allegedly carrying 350,000 litres of smuggled gasoil, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
A Revolutionary Guards Navy commander said the ship, flying Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) colours, was intercepted and escorted to the Bushehr coast following a judicial order. The gasoil onboard will be offloaded as part of the legal procedures.
The commander further stated that the vessel had 13 crew members — all from India except one sailor from a neighbouring country.
Iran, which offers some of the world’s lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the weakened national currency, has been battling widespread fuel smuggling both by land to neighbouring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states. Investigations into the latest seizure are underway.