Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday detained an Eswatini-flagged vessel transporting 350,000 litres of smuggled gasoil, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
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According to an IRGC navy commander, the ship was intercepted under a judicial order and escorted to the coast of Bushehr, where its illicit cargo will be offloaded. The vessel was crewed by 13 Indian nationals and one sailor from a neighbouring country.
Iran, which maintains some of the world’s lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the steep decline of its national currency, has long struggled with rampant fuel smuggling. Authorities say smuggling operations continue both over land to neighbouring states and by sea to Gulf Arab nations.
