The US has sanctioned a network accused of providing false flags and certification to vessels carrying Iranian oil, allowing them to continue operating despite international restrictions.
The US Treasury Department announced the sanctions on November 4, targeting businessman Suniel Kumar Sharma, his wife Jaspreet Preeti Shahid and several companies linked to them.
The department said the network had been running unauthorised ship registries and classification services from India, claiming to represent maritime authorities in countries including Guyana, Aruba and Eswatini.
Several sanctioned tankers used the registries, including Lattafa, Binary Star and Vera, which have been linked to the transport of Iranian petroleum products.
Among the companies designated were India-based Oceaniek Technologies India and Aryavart Ship Management, as well as Singapore-based Eswatini Maritime Affairs and International Ship Registry.
“For years, Suniel Kumar Sharma (Sharma) and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid (Shahid), have, through their base in Chandigarh, India, defrauded maritime regulatory administrations in multiple jurisdictions in order to establish false flagging authorities and maritime classification societies,” the department said.
