Special team enters West Africa-bound cargo ship, begins probe into ‘illegal export’ of PDS rice from Kakinada Anchorage Port

Special team enters West Africa-bound cargo ship, begins probe into ‘illegal export’ of PDS rice from Kakinada Anchorage Port. The team will inspect the entire stock of 38,000 MT of rice loaded in the ship, Stella L Panama, and collect samples to identify and certify the total quantity of PDS rice in it, says the District Collector. The inspection will continue up to December 6.

The 10-member special team, led by the Kakinada Port Customs under the Ministry of Finance, on December 4, 2024 (Wednesday) launched an inquiry to trace and certify the presence of rice supplied through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the West Africa-bound cargo ship, Stella L Panama, at the Kakinada Anchorage Port.

On December 3 (Tuesday), the Government of Andhra Pradesh had seized the ship for inspection, in the wake of the alleged illegal export of PDS rice from the port as claimed by District Collector S. Shan Mohan.

The team comprises officials from the Port Customs, Kakinada Anchorage Port, Kakinada District Police, A.P. Maritime Board, Civil Supplies Department, and Civil Supplies Corporation.

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan reportedly could not enter the ship for inspection of rice, allegedly due to non-cooperation by the authorities concerned during his visit on November 29.

“The inquiry by the team aims at inspecting the entire stock of 38,000 MT of rice loaded in Stella L Panama to identify and certify the total quantity of PDS rice loaded in it by the exporters,” said Mr. Shan Mohan. The inspection will continue up to December 6.

As per an official release issued by Mr. Shan Mohan, the team was collecting the samples to be tested outside the cargo ship to confirm the presence of PDS rice.

“The source of PDS rice procured and loaded by the respective exporter in Stella L Panama will be traced based on the team’s findings,” said Mr. Shan Mohan.