Chennai, October 13: Indian Coast Guard have seized a ship close to Tuticorin coast after it was detected moving suspiciously in the Indian waters. According to the Coast Guard, the ship, with 35 crew members on board, has been found to be carrying arms.
A press release by the Indian Coast Guards said, “At about 2230 hrs on 11 October, 2013 an information regarding presence of a suspect merchant vessel ‘MV Seaman Guard’ carrying arms and guards close to Tuticorin was received at Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (East). Immediately on receipt of the message an Indian Coast Guard ship was dispatched to intercept the suspected vessel. In the meantime the vessel was put under electronic surveillance by the Coast Guard coastal surveillance network.”
The suspected vessel was intercepted about 15 nautical miles East of Tuticorin and escorted to Tuticorin harbour for joint investigation. The vessel is manned by 10 crew members (02 Ukranian and o8 Indian) alongwith 25 security guards (06 British, 14 Estonian, 01 Ukranian and 04 Indians).
According to the press release, the crew members are yet to produce the authorisation letter for carrying arms onboard. Authorities are also investigating that if the ship was involved in the arms trafficking.
