Drug seizure: Scuba divers engaged to trace cocaine in sea in Odisha’s Paradip

Paradip: Days after the seizure of around 22 kg of cocaine from a ship at Paradip port in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, the authorities have reportedly engaged scuba divers to trace more cocaine in the sea.

It is being suspected that some of the crew members of the ship threw a packet containing the drug into the sea before the raid and subsequent seizure.

The investigators were questioning as many as 10 persons– 3 crew members, six crane operators and a stevedoring employee– in connection with the incident, sources said.

The Customs department had seized about 22 kg of cocaine from ‘MV Debi’ ship on the intervening night of November 30 and December 1. The ship was berthed at the International Cargo Terminal of the port.

The ship had arrived from Gresik port in Indonesia and was scheduled to travel to Denmark.

The market value of the seized narcotic drug is stated to be around Rs 220 crore.