The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has intercepted three vessels and busted an international oil smuggling operation in the Arabian Sea, officials said. According to an official statement, the smuggling syndicate was involved in transporting “large volumes of cheap oil and oil-based cargo from conflict-affected countries” and transferring it mid-sea to motor tankers in international waters to avoid paying duties.

The statement said the network had handlers from multiple countries who coordinated the sale and transfer of cargo between vessels. The ICG began its probe after its digital surveillance systems detected suspicious tanker activity inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Officials said the Coast Guard studied vessel movement patterns and electronic data to track the suspected ships.

This investigation led to the identification of three vessels, which were intercepted around 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on Thursday. After the interception, ICG specialist teams boarded the vessels and carried out detailed checks. Officials said the teams verified documents, questioned crew members, and confirmed the modus operandi of the operation.

Investigations revealed that the vessels frequently changed their identities to avoid being detected by authorities. The statement also noted that the owners of the vessels were based outside India.

The seized vessels are expected to be escorted to Mumbai for further investigation. They will then be handed over to Indian Customs and other law enforcement agencies for further legal action.

The Coast Guard said the operation highlights the ICG’s growing digital surveillance capabilities and strong maritime presence, and reinforces India’s role as a net provider of maritime security and an enforcer of the international rules-based order.