Cuttack: The Customs department had seized about 22 kg of cocaine worth approximately Rs 220 crore from MV Debi ship docked at Paradip Port in December last year. Hearing the case pertaining to MV Debi’s stay in the berth of Paradip Port beyond the stipulated time, the Orissa High Court has recently ordered the Paradip Port authorities to arrest the ship.
The Orissa High Court’s order came in response to a petition filed by Paradip International Kargo Terminal Private Limited. Justice V Narasingha passed the interim order. The next hearing of the case will be held on March 7.
Notably, the Customs Department had seized at least 22 kg of cocaine from the ship berthed at Paradip Port on the intervening night of November 30 and December 1. The ship had arrived from Gresik port in Indonesia and was about to depart to Denmark.
According to the petition, the ship authorities were supposed to pay a whopping amount of Rs 7.95 crore to Paradip Port authorities on grounds of berth rent, fines, interest, legal expenses and other dues.
The petition demanded the arrest of the vessel under the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act 2017.
The court ordered the verdict on February 21 while the original case was under sub-judice.
