Eleven Baloch individuals from various cities in Balochistan and Karachi went missing over five months ago after embarking on a maritime work journey to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The crew was transporting urea fertilizer aboard an Iranian cargo dhow, but no contact has been made with their families since their departure, leaving relatives deeply concerned.
Reports indicate that the Iranian cargo dhow departed Karachi on March 7, 2024, and arrived at Chabahar Port. On June 11, 2024, after loading 800 tons of urea fertilizer—belonging to a Tehran-registered company—the vessel departed Chabahar’s Shahid Beheshti Port for Mogadishu. However, all communication with the crew ceased shortly afterward.
Family members of the missing sailors have reached out to various government offices, including the governor’s office, judiciary, Chabahar port authorities, and the Tehran-based company that owned the cargo, pleading for help. Despite these efforts, no action has been taken to locate the missing crew.
The identities of the missing crew members are as follows:
- Abdulghani Rasani, 51, from Konarak, captain of the dhow
- Morteza Ayan, 30, from Konarak, sailor
- Abdullah Opera, 38, from Konarak, sailor
- Aslam Aron, 43, from Chabahar, sailor
- Amin Iranpanah, 35, from Chabahar, sailor
- Anis Ariyanjad, 33, from Konarak, sailor
- Abdullah Melkereisi, 26, from Sarbaz, sailor
- Mohsen Avon, 42, from Chabahar, sailor
- Farhan, 25, from Karachi, sailor
- Uzair, 24, from Karachi, sailor
- Abdulaziz, 54, from Karachi, sailor
Some relatives believe that the crew may have been forced to change course near the Gulf of Aden and ended up at the port of Al-Mokha in Yemen. This port is under the control of the Saudi-Emirati coalition due to Yemen’s ongoing civil war. It is suspected that the crew might be detained at this location.
After more than 150 days of no contact, the families are urging Iranian authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate and provide clarity about the fate of their loved ones.
