In a case that has captured international attention, a Panama-registered, Vietnamese-owned bulk carrier named Debi (37,000 dwt, built in 2012) continues to be embroiled in legal and financial turmoil in India.
The vessel, detained on suspicion of cocaine smuggling, has been at the center of a protracted legal battle, with the latest developments indicating that the ship may soon be sold by court order due to the owner's apparent abandonment and failure to meet financial obligations.
The Discovery and Detention
The Debi’s troubles began in late November 2023 when the vessel arrived at the port of Paradip in eastern India. Sailing from Indonesia to Denmark, the bulk carrier was scheduled to transport a load of steel plates. However, upon arrival on November 30, the situation took a dramatic turn. As the vessel moved from the anchorage to the dock, a routine operation was disrupted when a port worker, tasked with assisting crane operations, noticed something unusual. Suspicious packages were found attached to the top of the crane in a location not visible from the deck. Concerned they might be explosives, the worker immediately reported the findings to the port authorities.
A thorough search of the vessel was conducted, revealing that the packages had been affixed to the crane using magnets. Further examination and testing confirmed the worst fears: the packages contained a total of 22 kilograms of cocaine, valued at an estimated $26 million on the street.