26/11 security gayee tel lene

Seizure of 12,000 litres of smuggled diesel off Mumbai coast proves our maritime security has not really improved

Seizure of 12,000 litres of smuggled u00a0diesel off Mumbai coast proves our maritime security has not really improved

A team led by Senior Police Inspector Rajan Bhogle of the Sewri police station seized 12,000 litres of diesel on Monday night at the Chamda Godi in Mazagaon.

The fuel, which is believed to have been either stolen or bought illegally from ships anchored at Mumbai harbour, was transferred from two ships to a waiting truck that was intercepted and seized by Bhogle's team a few minutes later.

The seizure has highlighted how Mumbai's shores continue to be exploited by elements that operate beyond reach of the law despite all the security-bolstering measures taken after the 26/11 terror attacks.

The incident has also brought the large number of unauthorised ships that ply the Mumbai harbour into renewed focus.

SEIZED: Sewri police intercept a truck loaded with diesel at Chamda Godi in Mazagaon.

The police discovered that one of the impounded boat had not been registered, and the people operating the ship did not have papers to ply the vessel in the harbour.

Police records indicate the consignment was siphoned from large ships anchored at Mumbai harbour after nightfall. The smuggled diesel is sold at Rs 15 per litre. Authorised petrol pumps in the city sell diesel for Rs 35.u00a0
Mohammed Sharif (38), the alleged kingpin in the oil smuggling racket and his key associate Nazim Sheikh (55) are being questioned.

"We are investigating if captain of the ship from which the diesel was stolen is involved in the racket," said Additional Commissioner (south region) RK Padmanabhan.

Did you know?
Smuggling of diesel has emerged as the favourite business of Mumbai's smugglers, replacing gold and drugs, as it is not as high on the Customs Department's watch-list

20
Number of drums that were used to store the contraband diesel

'Mumbai and Smuggling,u00a0A short History'

1990-1991 Gold, which was referred to as tukda or peela, and silver was the mainstay of smugglers during this period 1992 Dawood aide Hemendra alias Bhai Thakur facilitated the landing of smuggled silver off Vardai near Virar 1994 Smuggled electronic items like stereos, VCRs that were sold at malls, that mushroom across Mumbai 1998 Narcotic syndicates run by Haji Ismail and Iqbal Mirchi attract the Customs Department's scanner 1999-2004 Smugglers cash in on cellphones, foreign currency, drugs and banned chemicals