The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has busted a major gang involved in smuggling of international oil and oil-based cargo by conducting a bold mid-ocean operation on 6 February 2026. This action was carried out through a joint network of maritime and air surveillance.
According to the Coast Guard, the smuggling gang used to bring cheap oil and oil-based goods from conflict-affected countries in large quantities and transfer them to motor tankers mid-sea in international waters and earn huge profits. This entire network included handlers from many countries, who coordinated deals and transfers between ships.
How was this smuggling racket busted?
ICG intercepted three suspicious vessels about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on 5 February 2026. The specialist boarding team conducted a thorough search of the vessel, collated onboard electronic data and documents and interrogated the crew to establish the entire smuggling mechanism and chain of events.
Through technical surveillance system, ICG had detected suspicious activity of a motor tanker in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Subsequently, through digital investigation and data pattern analysis, two other ships were also identified, which were illegally transferring oil-based cargo at sea and evading taxes and duties of coastal countries, including India.
Used to hide identity to avoid law, owner is foreign
On February 5, special teams of ICG boarded the ships and conducted an investigation and after confirming the digital evidence, the three were arrested. Preliminary investigation has revealed that these ships repeatedly changed their identities to avoid the law and their owners live in foreign countries.
The Coast Guard said the captured vessels could be brought to Mumbai for further investigation and action, where they would be handed over to Indian Customs and other law enforcement agencies. This operation was made possible through digital surveillance and increased coast guard presence in the sea, which is considered an important step towards ensuring compliance with international maritime rules.
