The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) busted an international oil smuggling racket through a sea-air network-centred operation. The vessels involved devised a method to smuggle large volumes of cheap oil and oil-based cargo from conflict-ridden countries.

During the operation, it was found that the smugglers were carrying out mid-sea transfers of the illicit cargo to motor tankers in international waters, with the objective of making substantial illegal profits.

The operation was conducted yesterday following the interception of three suspect vessels about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on the 5th of this month.

ICG successfully established the modus operandi and the complete chain of events through sustained rummaging, verification of ship documents, analysis of electronic data and interrogation of the crew.