Kochi:
MV Seaman Guard, the vessel detained at Tuticorin last week for carrying armed guards and semi-automatic weapons without necessary documents, had berthed at the Kochi port in the last week of August, sources have told NDTV.
Sources say the ship's captain has told authorities during investigation that the vessel was waiting for refuelling by an "Indian agent."
The vessel, belonging to a US-based firm but registered in Sierra Leone (West Africa), had then not declared that it was carrying any arms or ammunition.
Questions are now being raised as to how within 45 days, this vessel was able to get the arms and ammunition on board.
While considering it a security breach, the Indian Coast Guard had intercepted and detained the vessel off the coast of Kanyakumari on Friday. It had 10 crew and 25 armed security guards on board.
The vessel was towed to Tuticorin port, where investigations are on by the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Customs and intelligence agencies.
The ship's captain has yesterday reportedly told investigators that the guards belong to a company which provides armed escorts, especially to merchant vessels in pirate-infested areas of southern Indian Ocean as well as Gulf of Aden.
The entire east coast route between India, Indonesia and Mauritius is infamous for illegal arms and drugs piracy.