One of the biggest drug hauls in Odisha, the Bhubaneswar Customs recovered 22 kg of cocaine on Friday. As per the official statement, the drugs worth Rs 220 crore were captured from a cargo ship anchored at Paradip Port. Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Based on intelligence, the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) and division officers of Bhubaneswar Customs searched a Panama-registered Ship, MV Debi at Paradip Port and recovered 22 kg of Cocaine worth Rs 220 crore. The cocaine packets were… pic.twitter.com/uRQOm272rB— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023SIIB declares sample as CocaineThe operation was conducted after inputs from intelligence, confirmed Bhubaneswar zones Commissioner of Customs. He informed that a few suspected packets, likely to be Narcotics drugs were hidden in a Panama registered Ship, named MV Debi berthed at Paradip International Cargo Terminal. The ship arrived from Gresik port, Indonesia in ballast.Based on intelligence, SIIB and Division officers of Bhubaneswar Customs searched a Panama registered Ship, MV Debi at Paradip Port and recovered 22 kg of Cocaine worth INR 220 crore. The cocaine packets were concealed in the crane of the ship. Further investigation is underway. pic.twitter.com/K1QCQh9bKc— CGST & Customs Bhubaneswar Zone (@cgstcusbbsr) December 1, 2023Customs officials conducted the search operations on the ship at midnight on November 30.The official statement said, Initial testing by the Special Intelligence and Investigation (SIIB) team of the Bhubaneswar Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate revealed that the substance is possibly Cocaine, a narcotic drug under the NDPS Act 1985. Drugs worth ₹220cr recovered Furthermore, it added, A total of 22 kg of such drugs valued at around Rs 220 cr in the international grey market was recovered. All the crew members working onboard the ship are from Vietnam. The ship is registered in Panama and is operated by the Asia Pacific Shipping Co. Ltd.The officials also said that the cocaine samples are to be sent to the government laboratory to ascertain the exact nature and chemical properties of the packages. Investigations are still being conducted further.
