The United States Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions on November 4, 2026, targeting an India-based network accused of providing fraudulent ship registrations and maritime certifications to vessels transporting Iranian petroleum. The sanctions were imposed under Operation Economic Outcast, a U.S. initiative aimed at disrupting networks supporting Iran’s oil trade and sanctions evasion.

According to the Treasury Department, the network was allegedly operated by Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, from Chandigarh, India. U.S. authorities accused the couple of establishing unauthorized ship registries and maritime certification organizations that falsely claimed to represent countries including Guyana, Eswatini, Aruba, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Sint Maarten, and Timor-Leste. The alleged activities reportedly began as early as 2014.

The Treasury Department said the network created websites resembling legitimate maritime authorities and offered vessel registration, seafarer certification, and classification services without authorization from the respective governments. One organization, Eswatini Maritime Affairs and International Ship Registry, was established in Singapore in 2023 despite not being recognized by Eswatini authorities. U.S. officials alleged that the network provided false documentation to sanctioned tankers carrying Iranian oil, allowing them to misrepresent their flag State registration.

The sanctions cover four individuals and nine organizations associated with the alleged network. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also issued an advisory warning shipowners, operators, insurers, and maritime service providers about the risks of dealing with falsely flagged vessels. U.S. authorities urged the maritime industry and port authorities to verify vessel registrations and confirm the legitimacy of flag State documentation to reduce sanctions exposure and maritime safety risks.