Indictments have been issued for 166 individuals accused of smuggling more than 400 million liters of diesel fuel in Kolahi Port, Minab, and their cases have been referred to court for sentencing.
According to Kolbarnews, citing sources in Balochistan, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Ebrahim Taheri, the prosecutor of Minab, announced that indictments had been issued for 166 individuals accused of storing millions of liters of smuggled fuel in warehouses at Kolahi Port. If convicted, they face prison sentences, flogging, and fines exceeding 60 trillion tomans. Taheri also noted that indictments had previously been issued for another 20 defendants in this case.
On May 10–12, 2025, Islamic Republic military forces stormed Kolahi Port in Minab, engaging in gunfire, blockades, patrols, and the destruction and burning of citizens’ property. During the attack, at least four locals were injured by pellet bullets and beatings.
Following this violent crackdown, residents took to the streets chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic, but military forces once again opened fire with live ammunition and pellets, injuring more people.
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.
