Military and law-enforcement forces, accompanied by local officials including the Deputy Governor for Security Affairs and the Deputy Commander of the Sarallah Corps of Kerman Province raided the village of Meysamabad in Anbarabad County. The operation, which authorities described as a campaign against “fuel smuggling,” resulted in the arrest of 53 people, the seizure of 71 vehicles, and the destruction of 1,650 fuel storage tanks.
According to Kolbarnews, on Sunday, 30 November 2025, military and police forces alongside local officials, including the Deputy Governor for Security Affairs and the Deputy Commander of the IRGC Sarallah Corps of Kerman raided the village of Meysamabad in Anbarabad County. Authorities labeled the operation an anti–fuel smuggling campaign, which led to the arrest of 53 individuals, the confiscation of 71 vehicles, and the destruction of 1,650 fuel containers.
The head of Kerman Province’s police force, Brigadier General Moghufei, called the operation successful and announced the discovery of 616,750 liters of smuggled petroleum products. He also stated that an “organized fuel-smuggling network” had been identified and dismantled, and that 14 illegal fuel cards were seized.
Residents of Meysamabad described the raid as repressive and inhumane, saying that issues such as Sukhtbari from widespread poverty, unemployment, and economic deprivation not the actions of ordinary people. Many locals emphasized that if the Islamic Republic truly intends to fight corruption and smuggling, it should confront major embezzlers and high-level profiteers, rather than impoverished residents of southern Kerman who turn to such work out of economic desperation.
Villagers also criticized the operation, arguing that such actions do nothing to resolve economic hardship and instead intensify the region’s already heavy security atmosphere, exposing residents to new dangers.
According to them, any sustainable solution to fuel smuggling would require meaningful investment in economic development, job creation, and livelihood support, not military raids and repression of local citizens.
Brigadier General Moghufei stated that the campaign will continue and that authorities will respond decisively to any “illegal activity,” a stance critics describe as an escalation of repression and further securitization of life for Baluch residents.
Sukhtbari is considered one of the unconventional and dangerous jobs that many Baloch people in Balochistan have been forced to turn to due to the lack of suitable and stable employment. Accidents, vehicle overturns, and direct gunfire from military and security forces are among the dangers that threaten the lives of these Sukhtbars. According to reports from Baloch activists, in the year 2024, at least 375 Baloch Sukhtbars have been injured or lost their lives due to shootings by military forces, traffic accidents, and vehicle fires. Of this number, 240 Sukhtbars were killed and 135 were injured, representing a 55% increase in the number of killed and injured Sukhtbars compared to the year 2023.
