MUMBAI: Carrying out a search on a luxury cruise liner that was to set sail on a two-day voyage from Mumbai, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) late on Saturday evening seized drugs and detained 10 persons, including the son of a Bollywood megastar. They are being booked under the NDPS Act.
The son of the Bollywood megastar, who was detained before the cruise liner had sailed, was being taken to the NCB’s office at the time of going to press. NCB sources said drugs like cocaine, charas, Mephedrone and Ecstasy had been seized. The statements of the detainees were recorded. Their blood samples will be collected and they will undergo medical tests before spending the night at the NCB office. They will be produced before a holiday court on Sunday.
The cruise liner had organised a party during the two-day trip and sold tickets online. It had mentioned that it would not tolerate consumption and distribution of drugs.
NCB officials said they had received information that some of the passengers on the cruise were carrying contraband. After verifying the authenticity of the informer’s background, the NCB Mumbai team with around 20 officials boarded the cruise liner before it had left the shores.
The cruise liner carrying around 800 to 1,000 passengers was supposed to return to Mumbai on October 4. Sources said that several celebrities were on board.
