A vessel coming from Dubai, suspectedto be carrying a satellite phone, was intercepted off Mumbai,and five persons on board have been taken into custody, CoastGuard officials said today.
The Coast Guard yesterday intercepted calls allegedlymade through the Thuraya satellite phone on board vessel 'MSVYusufi' which came from Dubai on Tuesday, the officials said.
The officials then intercepted the vessel at 35 nauticalmiles off Mumbai coast.
When the coast guard officials stepped on board 'MSVYusufi', they found 28 live goats.
On further investigation, they found that the satellitephone was apparently thrown in waters along with some deadgoats, they said.
Five people onboard the vessel were taken into custody bythe Coast Guard and were handed over to Mumbai police today.
The crew was reportedly in touch with a person identifiedas Usman in Dubai, for whom some "goods" were being brought toMumbai by the vessel, the officials said.
The coast guard suspect that the vessel could have broughta big drug consignment.