Indian customs bust Russian ship in illegal fuel and sanctions evasion scheme

Customs officials have intercepted a Russian-flagged vessel and an Indian bunker barge off the Mumbai coast. The operation involved the illegal supply of fuel and the suspected use of forged documents to evade taxes and sanctions. Around 200 tons of very low sulphur fuel oil was allegedly transferred to the Russian vessel, MT Angara. The Customs Preventive Wing stopped MT Angara and the bunker barge MV Bay III during the suspected illegal fuel transfer. Investigators found copies of bunker delivery notes and fuel test reports on board MT Angara. These documents, along with forged export invoices, were allegedly used to bypass mandatory Customs procedures.

The vessel MT Angara is under active sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Authorities believe the operation aimed to evade applicable taxes, domestic duties, and detection by sanctioning bodies. The bunker barge MV Bay III is owned by an individual running a shipping company based in Navi Mumbai.

Customs officials have identified the company and individuals allegedly responsible for creating the fake paperwork. Suspicion also falls on foreign transactions linked to associated companies in the UAE. The case involves the illegal supply of fuel and the use of falsified documents to avoid taxes and sanctions. Customs continue to investigate the individuals and companies connected to the operation. The intercepted vessels remain under scrutiny as part of the ongoing probe.