odisha news: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Jan 15: All 21 Vietnamese crew members detained aboard the cargo ship MV Debi at Odisha’s Paradip Port following the seizure of 22 kg of cocaine worth ₹220 crore have been released after over a year of confinement.
The crew had been held on the vessel since November 30, 2023, when the cocaine was discovered at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT). Expressing relief, one crew member said, “We are really happy to be released after a year of confinement.”
In November 2024, the detained crew staged a dharna aboard the vessel, protesting unpaid salaries and their prolonged detention. The protest disrupted vessel operations, including engine functionality and refueling.
On December 3, the Orissa High Court directed Customs officials to facilitate the replacement of the crew. Following this order, 11 crew members were released in two phases, with the remaining crew freed in subsequent phases. Seventeen new crew members have since joined the vessel.
Despite the high-value cocaine seizure, the investigation has seen little progress, and no arrests have been made so far. MV Debi remains berthed at the port as inquiries continue.
