Tehran, Iran — Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker in the Gulf waters, accusing it of smuggling more than two million liters of fuel, and have detained all 17 crew members, state media reported Monday.
According to the ISNA news agency, police border guards in Hormozgan province intercepted the vessel, named Phoenix, which was flying the flag of a third country, while it was in Iranian territorial waters. Officials said the crew, all foreign nationals, were taken into custody and the cargo was confiscated.
Fuel smuggling has long been a challenge in Iran, where heavy government subsidies keep domestic fuel prices among the lowest in the world, making illicit exports highly profitable. Authorities frequently announce the interception of ships engaged in this trade.
Just last month, Iranian forces seized another foreign tanker in the Sea of Oman under similar circumstances, also carrying an estimated two million liters of contraband fuel.
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