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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4730
ANSWERED ON – 20/03/2026
DETENTION OF INDIAN SEAFARERS BY FOREIGN AUTHORITIES
4730. MS SAYANI GHOSH
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Indian seafarers arrested or detained by foreign
countries since 2014, country-wise and year-wise;
(b) the current status of such cases, indicating the number of
seafarers released, repatriated or remain in detention, country-wise;
(c) the nature of charges or reasons for detention in such cases,
category-wise;
(d) the steps taken by the Government, including through Indian
Missions abroad, for legal assistance, consular access, medical
support and welfare of detained seafarers;
1(e) whether any special financial, legal or diplomatic assistance has
been provided to affected seafarers and their families, if so, the details
thereof;
(f) whether the Government has taken up such cases bilaterally or
through international maritime bodies to secure early release, if so,
the details thereof; and
(g) the steps taken or proposed to be taken to strengthen protection
mechanisms, legal awareness and emergency support for Indian
seafarers working overseas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) As per the information available with the Ministry, the details
of Indian seafarers arrested or detained by foreign countries is placed
at Annexure A, Indian seafarers released or repatriated is placed at
Annexure B and Indian seafarers who are currently in detention in
foreign countries is placed at Annexure C.
2The reasons for detention of Indian seafarers include illegal entry into
foreign waters, possession of ammunition, liquor smuggling, diesel
smuggling, drug trafficking, money laundering etc.
(d) to (g) The Government attaches high priority to the safety, security
and welfare of Indian seafarers. As soon as information about the
detention of Indian seafarers is received, our Missions/Posts in
respective countries coordinate with local authorities to ascertain the
well-being of Indian seafarers and provide requisite help and support,
including consular assistance and medical support. Financial
assistance, if necessary, is provided through the Indian Community
Welfare Fund (ICWF). Apart from extending all possible consular
assistance, our Missions/Posts also assist in providing legal aid
wherever needed. On the release of the seafarers, Indian
Missions/Posts abroad provide them with necessary travel documents
to facilitate their repatriation to India.
The Government has been taking up the issues of arrest of Indian
seafarers by foreign countries with respective governments through
diplomatic channels, various official interactions and established
bilateral mechanisms. The matter of early release and repatriation of
3Indian seafarers is consistently raised with respective countries at all
levels and it is conveyed that the issue may be considered purely on
humanitarian and livelihood grounds with an aim to expedite the
resolution of the cases.
4Annexure A
The total number
The number of Indian seafarers arrested or detained since 2014, year-wise
of Indian
Sr. Country
Seafarers arrested
No. Name
or detained from
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
2014 to 2025
1 Albania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
2 Bangladesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 15 16
3 China 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 0 1 8
4 Cote d'Ivoire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
5 Djibouti 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 12 22
6 Egypt 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Equatorial
7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 16
Guinea
8 Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
10 Greece 10 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 27
11 Iran 0 0 0 0 0 16 21 7 17 81 70 57 269
12 Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 4
13 Kenya 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 8
514 Lebanon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
15 Libya 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5
16 Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 34
17 Maldives 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 7
18 Mauritius 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
19 Nigeria 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 27
20 Portugal 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
21 Qatar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
22 Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 25
23 Senegal 5 0 13 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 22
24 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 10 2 0 23
25 Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5
Trinidad &
26 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 17
Tobago
27 Turkiye 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 5
28 Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5
United
29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2
Kingdom
630 Vietnam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
31 Yemen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6
7Annexure B
The total number
The total number of Indian seafarers released or repatriated since 2014, year-wise of Indian
seafarers who
Sr.
Country Name have been
No.
released or
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
repatriated from
2014 to 2025
1 Albania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
2 Bangladesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 15 16
3 China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 1 7
4 Cote d'Ivoire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
5 Djibouti 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5
6 Egypt 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Equatorial
7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 16
Guinea
8 Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 21
9 Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
10 Greece 10 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 27
11 Iran 0 0 0 0 0 9 5 18 14 57 95 30 228
12 Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
813 Kenya 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 8
14 Lebanon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
15 Libya 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5
16 Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 34
17 Maldives 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 7
18 Nigeria 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 27
19 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3
20 Qatar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
21 Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 25
22 Senegal 0 5 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18
23 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 10 2 0 23
24 Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 13 3 5 0 0 24
Trinidad &
25 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 1 0 16
Tobago
26 Turkiye 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5
27 Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5
28 Yemen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6
9Annexure C
The total number of Indian seafarers who are currently in
Sr. No. Country Name
detention
1 Australia 1
2 China 2
3 Cote d'Ivoire 1
4 Djibouti 17
5 Egypt 1
6 Iran 18
7 Italy 2
8 Mauritius 2
9 Nigeria 22
10 Senegal 4
11 Trinidad & Tobago 1
12 United Kingdom 2
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