Overview
- The Indian Coast Guard intercepted Asphalt Star, Stellar Ruby and Al Jafzia (ex‑Chiltern) about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on Feb. 5–6 and has kept them anchored offshore for investigation.
- A 90‑member multi‑agency team is interrogating 55 crew members and conducting forensic checks of cargo, logs and ownership trails.
- Officials report seizing about 140 tonnes of suspected illicit crude and say documents and AIS data indicate coordinated ship‑to‑ship transfers, spoofed positions and identity changes.
- Investigators have identified links to UAE‑based operator Jugwinder Singh Brar and entities previously sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting Iranian petroleum.
- Authorities say the action targets a network tied to U.S.-sanctioned Iranian oil flows and follows months of surveillance and recent Western moves against the so‑called dark fleet.