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Bulk carrier arrested in Paradip

The Orissa High Court has ordered the arrest of the 'Debi' from which 22 packets of cocaine were seized. The Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT) Private Ltd. had moved Orissa High Court seeking recovery of charges towards berth hire. Customs officials had seized cocaine valuated at ₹220 crore from vessel, berthed at PICT. The cocaine packets were concealed in the cranes of the ship. Subsequently, Assistant Commissioner, Paradip Customs Division directed the traffic manager, Paradip Port Trust, that no movement authorisations should be given to the vessel without prior consultation. The suspected ship had its last port of call from Gresik and was destined to Denmark. The PICT had sought recovery of ₹7.95 crore towards berth occupancy. V. Narasingha, Admiralty Judge, passed a order for arrest of vessel at Paradip Port.

Court has ordered to post a $12 million bond for release

More than two months after detaining the 'Debi' a court has set terms for the release of the ship which has been held along with its crew of 21 Vietnamese citizens approximately three miles off Paradip Port. The case was presented in an Indian district court on Feb 12, and lawyers reported the judge set stringent terms for the release of the vessel. The court has ordered the ship owner to post a $12 million bond and provide a $1.2 million bank guarantee before the vessel is released. The Indian customs authority had initially detained the crew for interviews after they discovered 22 kg of cocaine with a street value of $26 million hidden aboard the bulker. The reports did not indicate if any of the crew would be charged with crimes, but earlier it appeared they were being cleared of involvement in the smuggling. The Indian authorities confiscated the crew’s cellphones and computers leaving them virtually isolated and unable to contact family at home in Vietnam. In mid-January, there was an altercation aboard the ship with reports that it might have been due to depression among the crew members. The vessel’s third engineer jumped into the harbor and was taken to a hospital with injuries to his hand. The initial investigation indicated that the cocaine was intercepted with India not the intended destination. The authorities believed it was going to be removed from the ship only when it reached Europe.

Crew member of detained ship tried to commit suicide

One of the 21 crew members of the 'Debi', which has been detained at Paradip port for the last 45 days in connection with the seizure of cocaine worth Rs 220 crore, suffered injuries after trying to commit suicied on Jan 14, 2024. The crew member, identified as Bui Cong Hou, attempted suicide by jumping into the sea from the vessel which was detained by the Customs Department following the seizure of 22 kg of cocaine on Nov 30, 2023. As part of their investigation into the cocaine smuggling case, customs officials have confiscated the crew members’ cell phones and laptops. Lack of communication with the outside world and prolonged confinement in the vessel has led to strife among crew members who were now suffering from depression and anxiety. In the night of Jan 13, a physical altercation broke out between two groups of crew members during which Hou sustained injuries on his hand. Subsequently, Hou jumped into the sea out of frustration. He was rescued by fellow crew members and rushed to the port hospital in Paradip. Later, he was shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar in the morning of Jan 14 in a stable condition. The vessel is currently anchored at the PICT berth of the port. The investigation into the cocaine seizure case has made little progress with no arrests being made so far.