The Deputy Chief Minister of the State of Andhra Pradesh in India ordered the seizure of a bulk carrier at the Kakinada Anchorage port on 29 November.
The vessel, which was en route to West Africa, has been seized for being involved in the smuggling of subsidized rice. As reported, during a raid that was conducted at the Kakinada anchorage port, the bulk carrier was found to be involved in smuggling. The bulker was loaded with around 38,000 metric tons of rice, out of which 640 metric tons were identified to be rice supplied through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The Public Distribution System is a food security initiative by the Indian government to provide food for the economically disadvantaged. PDS rice is provided at highly subsidized rates, even free of charge, to people that are in serious economic hardship.
