cargo ship: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Dec 23: Crew members of a cargo ship that has been docked at Odisha’s Paradip port since December 2023, following the seizure of 22 kg of cocaine worth Rs 220 crore aboard, are finally set to return to Vietnam after more than a year of detention.
Currently, there are 21 crew members from Vietnam aboard the ship, but initial clearance has been granted for 11 of them to return to their homeland. Customs and Immigration authorities have provided the necessary approvals for their departure.
However, the visa authorizations for the remaining ten crew members have expired, prompting authorities to seek renewed clearances. They are in communication with the Vietnamese embassy to facilitate the process. Once the visa issues are resolved, these ten individuals will also be able to return to Vietnam.
The decision to allow the crew members to return has been positively received by many, although residents of Paradip have expressed criticism regarding the clearance granted by Customs authorities.
In November, the stranded crew members staged a protest against their prolonged detention, which escalated when the Panama-registered vessel was moored at the berth for supplies. During the protest, crew members halted all work, preventing the ship from returning to its anchorage for several hours.
