Suspicious vessel MSV Yusufi intercepted

A suspicious vessel carrying banned satellite phones was intercepted 15 kilometers off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday (April 3) night. The vessel, MSV Yusufi was moving from Dubai to Mumbai when 5 crew members on-board were held following intelligence inputs. Sources have said that the crew has admitted that they were carrying banned Thuraya satellite phones which they threw overboard after spotting coast guard officials. Thuraya phones have been banned by the Indian government since 2010 following the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Thuraya phones were used by 26/11 attackers who also came through sea route. Sources have said that, the crew members told the coast guard officials that they hail from Gujarat.