The vessels — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia — were intercepted amid concerns they were attempting to obscure the origin of oil cargoes through ship-to-ship transfers, according to a report
India has seized three US-sanctioned tanker ships allegedly linked to Iran this month and intensified maritime surveillance to curb illicit oil trade, according to a report, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter on Monday.
The vessels — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia — were intercepted amid concerns they were attempting to obscure the origin of oil cargoes through ship-to-ship transfers, the source said. India is seeking to prevent its waters from being used for such operations within its exclusive economic zone.
Indian authorities said in a post on X on February 6 that three vessels were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after suspicious activity involving a tanker was detected.
Although the post was later deleted, the source confirmed the ships were escorted to Mumbai for further investigation.
The crackdown comes amid improving ties between New Delhi and Washington. Earlier this month, the United States said it would reduce import tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% after India agreed to halt Russian oil imports.
According to the source, the tankers frequently changed their identities to evade detection by coastal states, and their owners are based overseas. The Indian Coast Guard has since deployed around 55 ships and 10 to 12 aircraft to conduct round-the-clock surveillance across its maritime zones.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last year sanctioned vessels named Global Peace, Chil 1 and Glory Star 1, with International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers identical to those of the ships seized by India.
Shipping data from LSEG indicate that two of the three tankers are linked to Iran. Al Jafzia transported fuel oil from Iran to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby was flagged in Iran. Asphalt Star primarily operated on routes around China, according to the data.
Sanctioned oil cargoes are often sold at steep discounts due to the risks involved, with intermediaries using complex ownership structures, falsified documentation and mid-sea transfers to mask origins and complicate enforcement.
With inputs from agencies
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