Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on coastal fuel smuggling, Paradip Marine Police on Saturday busted a racket involved in illegally siphoning diesel from cargo vessels and seized around 3,500 litres of diesel. One person was arrested during the operation, police said.
Acting on specific inputs, marine police intercepted a motor-operated boat engaged in suspicious activity on the Mahanadi river route near Paradip. During the search, police recovered a large quantity of diesel allegedly being illegally transported from deep-sea cargo vessels to the shore.
According to Paradip Additional SP Ajinkya Mane, the accused and his associates were reportedly using fishing activities as a cover to carry out the illegal operation. The diesel was being siphoned from anchored cargo ships in deep-sea areas and transported through boats via unauthorised routes. The seized boat and other materials used in the operation have been confiscated, and preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of an organised network operating in coastal waters.
“Paradip Marine Police intercepted the boat during patrolling. One person was arrested while another managed to escape. We recovered approximately 3,500 litres of diesel from the vessel. We are investigating the source of the fuel, its intended destination, and the network behind the operation,” he said.
Police suspect that the racket was operating through unauthorised offshore exchanges and coordinated transfers at sea, posing a threat to maritime and economic security.
A manhunt has been launched to trace the absconding accused and identify the alleged mastermind behind the network, police added.
