India Detains Three Tankers in Offshore Oil Smuggling Case

India’s coast guard said on Friday it had taken custody of three tankers located around 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai, describing the action as a coordinated operation targeting an international oil smuggling network.

“The syndicate exploited mid-sea transfers in international waters to move cheap oil from conflict-ridden regions to motor tankers, evading duties owed to coastal states,” the coast guard said.

The vessels, which have reportedly undergone multiple name changes, were escorted to Mumbai following the operation. According to the coast guard, the action underlined India’s position as “a net provider of maritime security and guardian of the rules-based international order.”

According to TankerTrackers.com, the ships involved were identified as AlJafzia, Asphalt Star and Stellar Ruby. The tracking service noted that all three vessels were added to US sanctions lists in 2025 due to their links to Iranian oil trade.

The move against shadow fleet tankers comes as India faces increasing pressure from Washington to curb imports of both Iranian and Russian crude, a development that is expected to influence global tanker trading patterns.