The Indian Coast Guard intercepted three vessels approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai during a coordinated sea–air operation conducted on 5–6 February 2026, disrupting an international oil-smuggling network.
According to the Coast Guard, the vessels were engaged in unauthorised mid-sea oil transfers, exploiting international waters to move low-cost oil while evading duties and regulatory oversight.
Indian Coast Guard–released images from the operation show one of the intercepted product tankers carrying Maersk Tankers’s livery. Authorities have not yet disclosed vessel names, flags, or ownership details.
All three vessels are being escorted to Mumbai for further legal proceedings.
Why it matters for maritime
The case underscores compliance and reputational exposure arising from illicit ship-to-ship transfer networks. Visual identification of globally recognised commercial liveries highlights the risk of vessel impersonation, charter complexity, or secondary use, pending official clarification. The interception reflects heightened enforcement along India’s west coast against illicit tanker activity.
Editor’s note: Images used in this report were circulated by the Indian Coast Guard and appear to be sourced from open-source vessel photography platforms, including MarineTraffic and may not be operational photographs taken by the Coast Guard.
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