Indian Coast Guard Intercepts Vessel Suspected Of Oil Smuggling Off Mumbai

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intercepted a vessel suspected of diesel smuggling off the Mumbai coast and recovered about ₹10 lakh in unaccounted cash and illicit liquor, the agency said.

The vessel, identified as the IFB Gauri Ganesh, had six crew members on board. It was brought to Mumbai Harbour, where multiple agencies are investigating the suspected smuggling operation.

The Coast Guard received intelligence at about 2:10 p.m. on September 10 about unauthorised activity near an offshore oil rig off Mumbai.

It sent its Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel, ICG Ship Sankalp, to the area to investigate.

The Coast Guard said Ship Sankalp carried out a midnight boarding operation off Mumbai on September 11 and intercepted the vessel during the dark hours.

Coast Guard personnel boarded the boat and searched it. They found concealed and unaccounted cash worth about ₹10 lakh and illicit liquor.

The vessel and its six crew members were then escorted to Mumbai Harbour.

Responding swiftly to a suspected oil smuggling intelligence input, @IndiaCoastGuard Ship Sankalp was deployed to undertake a midnight boarding operation off #Mumbai on 11 September 2026.

The strategic action by #ICG resulted in apprehension of the suspected IFB Gauri Ganesh,… pic.twitter.com/59i4ZTGxak

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 11, 2026

In a post on X, the Coast Guard said it had deployed Ship Sankalp after receiving intelligence about suspected oil smuggling.

The Coast Guard has not said how much diesel or oil was allegedly involved in the suspected smuggling operation.

Multiple agencies are now looking into the case to find out more about the suspected smuggling network. The investigation is continuing.

References: freepressjournal, news18