Odisha: Ship crew detained crew in Rs 220-Cr cocaine seizure case attempts suicide

By Pravakar Sahoo

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 15: A ship crew detained by Odisha’s Paradip police in the 220-Cr cocaine seizure case, on Sunday allegedly tried to commit suicide. He was, however, immediately rescued and sent to Paradip Port Hospital.

Later, he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment.

According to reports, the Vietnamese crew member who is said to be the third engineer of the ship, jumped into the sea in the morning after allegedly slitting his hand. The engineer sustained critical injury on his right hand in the process.

The police suspect that the crew member might have attempted suicide under severe mental pressure as their team has been confined inside the ship for around one and half months now. It is also suspected that he was involved in the smuggling of the narcotics substance for which he resorted to such extreme.

Sources in the police said the cops were ascertaining whether the crew member attempted suicide or made an escape bid.

No comment was obtained from the police and customs department officials in this regard.

As per the agent of the ship, the crew member got injured while doing the repair work of the ship. The ship is currently anchored at the anchorage, some four to five km away from the port under the supervision of the customs department.

All 21 Vietnamese crew members have been detained on the ship.

Customs department and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials are currently investigating into the circumstances in which the cocaine found its way onto the ship, apart from looking into the people who are involved in it

As many as 21 crew members of MV Debi ship, including the captain, are under the scanner of the customs department. The matter is currently under the jurisdiction of Kujanga Special Narcotics Court.