Fuel smuggling on high seas busted, 1 arrested

MUMBAI: The Yellow Gate police claim to have busted a diesel theft and smuggling racket with the arrest of a 32-year-old fisherman who allegedly illegally bought fuel from a foreign ship mid-sea last month. Investigators sid they have collected electronic evidence against the arrested accused, Richard Peter, and his gang members to prove a larger conspiracy. His five accomplices are at large.




According to the police, Peter and his gang members contacted the ship and took 65 litres of diesel, worth Rs 7,000, from it in the high seas. He was arrested on Saturday and his fishing trawler worth Rs 1.5 lakh seized, said a police officer. The police said that on September 18, they had recorded telephone conversations and text chats exchanged between the gang members, including Peter, regarding high tide timings and the suitable time to venture into the high seas to collect the diesel.

The police said it is illegal to sell large volumes of diesel without a licence from the petroleum ministry.

“This is loss to the country. These trawlers are allowed to go into the sea for fishing, but they buy fuel, mostly from foreign ships anchored off the city coastline, for cheap and sell the same for a huge margin,” said a police officer, requesting anonymity. Peter was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Essential Commodity Act, besides other offences. He was produced in a local court, which remanded him in police custody till October 24.