Incident Overview
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan orders seizure of West Africa-bound ship loaded with 38,000 MT of rice at Kakinada Anchorage Port, uncovering a major PDS rice smuggling operation with potential national security implications. Discovered 1,320 tonnes of subsidized rice intended for illegal export to Benin, raising concerns about port security and potential terrorist infiltration.[1][2][3].
Key Details
- Ship Name: Stella L Panama
- Total Cargo: 38,000 metric tonnes
- PDS Rice Discovered: 640-1,320 metric tonnes
- Destination: Cotonou Port, Benin (West Africa)
- Date of Intervention: November 28, 2024
Significant Findings
Kalyan discovered a complex smuggling operation involving:
- Illegal export of subsidized PDS rice
- Potential national security risks
- Involvement of multiple export companies[6]
Companies Implicated
- Manasa Quality Enterprises
- Satyam Balajee Rice Industries
- Lavana International
- Sai Teja Exporters
Government Actions
- Comprehensive port investigation
- Potential involvement of CBI or CID
- Directed seizure of the ship
- Warned about potential terrorist infiltration risks
Legal Complications
As of December 18, 2024, the final seizure remained uncertain due to potential procedural and legal issues[6].
Kalyan emphasized that this was not just about rice smuggling, but about protecting national security, drawing parallels with previous terrorist incidents[1][2].
Note: This is a developing story with ongoing investigations.
Citations:
[1] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2024/Nov/30/seize-ship-involved-in-illegal-rice-trade-andhra-pradesh-dycm
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/pawan-kalyan-cracks-down-on-illegal-rice-smuggling-at-kakinada-port-124113000059_1.html
[3] https://kainaazassociates.com/newsupdate/pawan-kalyan-orders-seizure-of-west-africa-bound-ship-loaded-with-38000-mt-of-rice-at-kakinada-anchorage-port/
[4] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/pawan-kalyan-raises-concern-over-security-breaches-at-kakinada-port/articleshow/115816534.cms
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEp-Omta9Mc
[6] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2024/Dec/18/pds-rice-smuggling-seizure-of-ship-not-possible-hints-collector
[7] https://www.thenewsminute.com/andhra-pradesh/1320-tonnes-of-pds-rice-found-on-ship-seized-by-dy-cm-pawan-kalyan
[8] https://www.instagram.com/deccanchronicle_official/reel/DC9Z_knM33L/
