KARACHI: Intelligence agencies and Customs officials in a joint operation have captured a large consignment of Iranian oil illegally brought to Karachi in a ship on Friday. A vessel of a private oil company was captured with 100,000 tonnes of Iranian oil cargo smuggled to Karachi. The ship was anchored at a SPM or a floating jetty of a private oil company. The government agencies on an intelligence report acted promptly and now the ship carrying smuggled oil cargo has been in the custody of the Customs authorities. According to media reports, a senior official of the Petroleum Ministry in connivance with a private oil company was involved in the smuggling of the Iranian oil. The sources said the intelligence agencies had already conducted several raids of the offices of the oil company. The smuggling of the Iranian oil is widespread as it is available for half of the actual price, the sources added. It is pertinent to mention here that there is an international embargo on oil trade with Iran. The Iranian oil cargo was brought to Pakistan by tampering shipment documents, according to the media reports. TLTP
