Bhubaneswar: The Marine police in Odisha Paradip town have busted a deep-sea diesel smuggling network and seized around 3,500 litres of fuel from a boat. The cops have also arrested a person in this connection.

As per reports, the officials of the Marine police intercepted a boat near Paradip port yesterday and seized around 3,500 litres of diesel, clandestinely procured from ships stationed in deep sea areas.

The Marine police also seized the boat and arrested one Sunnapalli Neelayya of Srikakulam area in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. He was residing in Sandhakuda area of Paradip town for last few days, reports added.

However, two aides of Sunnapalli Neelayya managed to escape. The police have registered a case in this regard and launched an operation to nab the duo.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the arrested person and his aides were involved in the smuggling of fuel and narcotic substances.

“The seizure of huge quantity of smuggled diesel has exposed an organised illegal supply chain operating through maritime routes and unauthorized dealings with ships anchored in deep sea zones,” said the Paradip Marine police in a statement.

The police have launched a probe to collect details about the wider network, financial transactions and involvement of any other persons in the network, reports added.