After spending more than a year of detention aboard the bulk carrier MV Debi at Paradip Port in Odisha, 12 of the 21 crew members have been allowed to leave, per TOI.
The ship was detained in December 2023 after Indian authorities found 22 kilograms of cocaine worth ₹220 crore hidden on the vessel.
The release was approved by Indian Customs and Immigration authorities after replacements for the 12 sailors joined the ship. According to officials, the remaining nine crew members will also be released once their substitutes arrive.
The MV Debi, a Panama-registered bulk carrier managed by the Asia Pacific Shipping Company of Vietnam, arrived at Paradip Port on November 30, 2023, from Indonesia, carrying a cargo of steel plates destined for Denmark.
During an inspection, a longshoreman spotted suspicious packages hidden under a crane. Authorities recovered 22 kilograms of cocaine, the largest drug seizure at Paradip Port.
The narcotics were reportedly attached to the crane using magnets. As a result, the ship was detained, and the crew’s electronics were seized for further investigation.
Despite no formal charges being filed against the crew, they were confined aboard the vessel as investigations continued. The sailors faced severe hardships, including limited communication with their families and restricted movement.
Essential supplies were periodically replenished, and medical checkups were conducted.
In January 2024, one of the engineers attempted to jump overboard after an argument but was rescued and treated for injuries.
By November 2024, the crew staged a protest, refusing to work and demanding an end to their prolonged detention.
The ship’s detention led to increasing financial difficulties. In February 2024, the Orissa High Court ordered the ship’s arrest after a claim by Paradip International Cargo terminal for unpaid dues totaling ₹7.95 crores.
In August, the court ordered the vessel’s sale as the shipowner failed to clear the debts.
Efforts made by the ship’s owner for the release were rejected by Indian courts. Authorities have confirmed that the vessel will remain detained, with a new crew ensuring its maintenance.
Under International Maritime Organization regulations, sailors cannot remain aboard a vessel for more than 11 months without leave. This forced the authorities to approve the phased release of the MV Debi’s crew.
The ship’s management arranged for 12 new sailors to replace those who departed, and more replacements are expected soon.
The remaining crew including several Vietnamese nationals, await their turn to leave the ship. Meanwhile, Indian Customs officials continue their investigations into the cocaine smuggling case, to know the whereabouts of the drugs loading.
References: The Hindu, TOI