(Editors: Replacing Devbhumi-Dwarka district with Gir-Somnath

After reports on seizure of heroin worth Rs 1,600 crore on board a vessel having Gujarat registration, the state CID has been ordered to find out whether the heroin seized near Kenyan coast by Australian Navy was shipped from here or any such consignment was delivered here in the past using sea route.

"After learning about the seizure, I have formally handed over the probe to state CID-Crime to look into the matter," Gujarat DGP P C Thakur said today.

The development came after Australian Navy intercepted a vessel off Kenyan coast in Indian ocean one week back and seized heroin worth Rs 1600 crore on board the vessel.

Reports also suggested that the vessel 'Laxminarayan' is registered in Veraval town of newly formed Gir-Somnath district (rpt Gir-Somnath district). The Australian navy also claimed to have arrested 10 Gujarat based sailors on the charges of smuggling drugs.

Since the preliminary investigation by local police claimed that the ship belonged to a Veraval based shipping firm 'ATP Sagar Trading' and had halted at Tuna port in Kutch before starting journey towards Dubai on March 4, police and other agencies became alert to find out whether state ports are used to smuggle heroin.

"We have just started our investigation..We are gathering all the information as the ship and crew were not held in Indian waters. We are in touch with local police of coastal areas to collect all the possible information," said Pramod Kumar, Additional DGP of CID-Crime.

Though the media reports about seizure surfaced today, local police of Jamnagar and newly formed Gir-Somnath district started their exercise much earlier after receiving inputs about the seizure.

"On March 29, we learnt about the seizure in Kenyan waters. Our investigation revealed that 'Laxmi-Narayan' vessel is registered in coastal town of Veraval here. Owner of that vessel is Ashok Parmar. He gave his ship on rent for one year to a Salaya based trader Haji Bashir Kathiyara, who loaded the vessel with goats and sheep at Tuna port in Kutch and headed towards Dubai one month back," said a senior police official of Gir-Somnath district.