Seizure of 22kg Cocaine Worth Rs 220 Crores from anchored Ship in Paradip Port, Odisha triggers Alarm

"The Customs Department officials made a significant discovery on Thursday night at Paradip Port in Odisha, sparking a buzz among the locals. Acting on a tip-off, officials seized around 22 kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth a staggering Rs 220 crore, from a container ship called MV Debi that had arrived from Indonesia's Gresik port.

 

 

 

 

According to sources, the illegal substance was being transferred from the MV Debi to a Denmark-bound ship carrying steel plates, which had docked at Paradip International Cargo Terminal. The alertness of a crane operator proved crucial, as he spotted the suspicious packets and immediately alerted the authorities.

 

A dog squad was promptly deployed to assist in the operation. Upon investigation, officials discovered 22 tightly-sealed packets cleverly attached to the upper side of a crane using magnets. It is believed that the crane was used to facilitate the illegal smuggling of the cocaine.

 

During a thorough search of the entire ship by the IB, Customs, and sniffer dogs from the Odisha police, it is believed that one of the crew members attempted to smuggle illegal substances. As the ship was not scheduled to stop at any other Indian port, authorities suspect that the contraband was intended for delivery overseas.

 

According to a source in the Customs Department, it appears that the drug was not intended for the Indian market. At this time, the captain and crew members of the cargo ship are undergoing interrogation by the investigating agencies at a undisclosed location.

 

There is an ongoing effort to determine if there is any connection to Odisha in this major drug bust, which is one of the largest in recent years in the state, the source revealed. There are also reports that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will potentially join the investigation. 

 

According to a source from customs, a staggering 22 kg of high quality cocaine was found concealed on a vessel. The going rate for 1 kg of cocaine in the global market is a minimum of Rs 10 crore. In order to confirm the contents, the packets have been sent for examination.

 

The agency has strong suspicions that one of the crew members attempted to smuggle the banned substance. A specialized team from Bhubaneswar has also been dispatched to Paradip for a thorough investigation. The crew, all hailing from Vietnam, are currently undergoing questioning as further inquiries unfold, as per sources.

 

This is the first time that such a large quantity of cocaine has been seized at Paradip Port. Previously, on April 13, 2022, a special task force (STF) of the state Crime Branch had seized 202 grams of cocaine, valued at around Rs 20 lakh, from two Rajasthan-based smugglers near Xavier Square.