The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police has dismantled an alleged oil theft operation in Kutch district, seizing six tankers, over 2 lakh kg of oil, and associated equipment collectively valued at ₹4,34,52,635. Eleven people have been arrested following a raid conducted on Thursday at a farmland site near Mundra, while five others have been named as wanted in the case.

Where and How the Raid Unfolded

The operation was carried out at an open ground in the Ratadiya (Ganeshvala) farmland area near Mundra, located on the left side of the highway from Mokha Toll Plaza towards Mundra — adjacent to Shivam Hotel and beneath the 66 kV Patri-Mundra Line No. 52. The precise, industrial-scale setup at the site suggests the operation had been running for a considerable period before authorities moved in.

What Was Seized

Police recovered six tankers valued at ₹1.5 crore and 2,05,170 kg of oil loaded in those tankers worth over ₹2.81 crore. An additional 1,465 kg of allegedly stolen oil valued at approximately ₹1.78 lakh was also found at the site.

Among the other items recovered were 10 mobile phones, a Hero Splendor motorcycle, 50 plastic barrels, three metal barrels, 72 plastic carboys, an electronic weighing scale, an electric motor with pipes, iron loading pipes, oil leakage stoppers, an iron valve, a barrel-lock wrench, and consignment notes and vehicle documents linked to the six tankers.

Arrests and the Accused Network

Those arrested include labourers allegedly employed by a man identified as Gafurbhai, along with tanker drivers and a driver's assistant. According to police, the accused are residents or natives of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Bihar — pointing to a multi-state labour network allegedly supporting the operation.

All eleven arrested have been handed over to Pragpar Police Station for further investigation. A case has been registered at the same station under Sections 303(2), 306, 316(3), 317(1)(2), 61(2), and 111(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Five Accused Named as Wanted

Police have identified five individuals as wanted in the case: Abdul Gafurbhai Ahmed Halepotra of Adipur in Kutch district, Pankajbhai of Anjar, Dhruvarajsinh Jethva of Anjar, Gopalbhai Gadhvi of Vovar village in Mundra taluka, and Harbhambhai Rabari of Bhimasar. Investigators are working to establish the full extent of the alleged theft network and the role each wanted accused played.

Investigation Ongoing

The SMC, which specialises in monitoring economic and organised crime, is continuing its probe to map the supply chain behind the alleged theft. The Mundra coastline's proximity to industrial and port infrastructure makes Kutch a strategically significant corridor for such operations, and authorities have indicated that the current arrests may not be the last in this case.