KOCHI: In the incident in which about 40 persons were trafficked in a boat through Munambam harbour near Kochi, coastal police and Navy are in pursuit of traffickers.

Four ships have started the search for the traffickers. They have the information that the traffickers’ boat is heading towards Christmas Island of Australia

The Navy hopes to catch the team before it crosses the international boarder. Navy may deploy more boats for the search operation which will be conducted in a secret manner.

Meanwhile, there are hints that a part of the team who had come ready for travelling to Australia are still hanging around in Kerala. Central Investigation agencies and State police are searching for them.

The Dayamatha boat the team bought from Munambam has no licence. The boat made by the joint partnership of a Thiruvananthapuram native and Munambam native was sold off only recently. Soon after the incident became public, those who sold the boat went into hiding.

Before starting off, the boat was filled with 12,500 litre diesel, which cost Rs 10 lakh. From the pump owner, they had not taken back the balance amount of Rs 50,000.

Though the police questioned the pump owner, they couldn’t elicit much information from him. Meanwhile, police also found out 52 discarded bags from Thekke maidan of Kodungallur Sreekurumba Bhagavathy temple. Following the incident, IB officials also have reached the spot.