TEHRAN,Iran, June 19
Trend:
Fuel smuggling from Iran to the neighboring countries has dropped due to the coronavirus pandemic, secretary of the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union (OPEX) Hamid Hosseini told Trend.
"However, the increase of fuel prices in the neighboring countries still encourages smugglers to do their business," he said.
He added that despite the fuel smuggling has reduced, it didn't drop to zero, and smugglers are finding new ways to smuggle fuel every day.
"The officials can come up with solutions to curb the smuggling, but there are many who profit from this business, so the whole issue isn't being taken seriously," Hosseini said.
He added that there's a network that creates conditions for fuel smuggling.
"There should be a system that would collect data on fuel supply, and thus confront smuggling," Hosseini said.
"Different structures act separately to fight fuel smuggling, for example the Headquarters of Fighting Smuggling of Goods and Currency has its own agenda while the Oil Ministry and Custom Administration have their own system, but having a cohesive system would be more effective," Hosseini believes.
"Otherwise a lot of money is being spent, and smugglers use the weak spots of each of these systems to gain profit," he said.
"Major part of smuggling is done via gasoline leakage from quota of power plants and industrial complexes," said Hosseini.
"The price of fuel in Iran's neighboring countries has increased due to the limits caused by COVID-19. For instance the price of gasoline increased in Pakistan and this attracts fuel smugglers," he said.