A vessel carrying 22 thousand liters of smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf has been confiscated by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Head of Hormozgan Province's Justice Department Mojtaba Qahremani said on Sunday that the IRGC naval forces have seized a ship carrying over 22,000 liters of smuggled fuel.

He said the case is under judicial investigation, emphasizing that the provincial officials will continue their fierce campaign against organized fuel smuggling and will never hesitate to protect the interests and assets of the Iranian people.

The judicial official noted that in addition to getting fined and facing prison terms, the smugglers will be also sentenced to confiscation of the smuggled goods.

The IRGC in June dismantled a large “organized” network smuggling fuel to neighboring countries, arresting all members. The network had been active in eight provinces in the country.

The IRGC unit in the central Markazi Province said its intelligence forces successfully identified and busted “one of the largest organized networks” involved in smuggling subsidized fuel in an “accurate and professional intelligence operation.”

Iran has vowed that the Persian Gulf would never be a safe place for smugglers.

The IRGC’s Navy has also foiled several attacks on Iranian and foreign tankers alike.