SLRs, live cartridges seized in Gujarat

Four Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) and 392 live cartridges were seized from a vessel -- MV Genco Province -- that arrived from Indonesia at Navlakhi port near Morbi town, Custom officials said on Monday.

Four Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) and 392 live cartridges were seized from a vessel -- MV Genco Province -- that arrived from Indonesia at Navlakhi port near Morbi town, Custom officials said on Monday.

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"We have seized four SLRs, which seem to have been procured from Sri Lankan Naval armoury, from two security guards on board Genco Province, which arrived at Navlakhi port on December 2," a senior custom official of the preventive wing told PTI.

"Around 392 live cartridges of foreign origin have also been seized," he said adding that two security guards on the vessel, carrying the arms, have nationality of Marshall islands in Iceland.

"We shall initiate the process of establishing contact with the Sri Lankan authorities to verify the credentials of this vessel and claims of their crew members," the official said.

The vessel which arrived from Indonesia had a SriLankan sign on. It was anchored at Navlakhi port to deliver coal, he said.

During preliminary investigations captain and crew of the vessel told us that they were carrying the weapons for protection from pirate attacks by Somalians in high seas, he said.

But, unless they establish through documents that the weapons they were carrying are legitimate they shall not be given port clearance, the official added.