Rs 220 crore Cocaine seizure at Paradip and possible Odisha link: Customs, IB intensify probe

Customs department, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Odisha Police have intensified their probe to know many unanswered questions in the major drug haul from Paradip on Friday.

While the probe agencies are trying to ascertain the source of the contraband, they are also trying to establish Odisha link to it, if there is any. It would be a matter of great concern if the drug consignment was scheduled to be unloaded at Paradip and sold in Odisha.

As per reports, this is the biggest haul of cocaine in Odisha so far and the IB and the customs are searching the whole ship with the help of sniffer dogs to make sure there are not any more drugs hidden anywhere.

The captain and the crew members of the ship are being questioned by the probe agencies at an undisclosed location.

is pertinent to mention here that the Customs Department seized 22 packets of cocaine worth a market value of Rs 220 crore from the cargo ship, MV Debi anchored at Paradip Port late Thursday night.

As per reports, the ship arrived at Paradip from Indonesia’s Gresik port and was scheduled to depart for Denmark carrying steel plates from Odisha.

However, a crane operator first noticed some suspicious packets in the ship and informed the authorities who came with a dog squad and seized the packets.

At first, the packets looked like an explosive device. But after they scanned the packets, it was found to be drugs concealed in small rectangular packets.

The authorities have so far kept mum in the case and denied commenting on anything related to the matter.