The Central Industrial Security Forces have intercepted a French yacht near the Kochi coast and took into custody two foreigners, Malcom Russel Williamson (72), a resident of Florida in US, and Guilamo Pinaol (45), a resident of French capital Paris.
Officers said the two foreigners had claimed to have lost their route due to a hailstorm and that they had reached Kochi accidentally.
Pinal had told the CISF officials that they the duo was on a trip around the world and had already covered 20 countries during their sojourn, officials said.
The two foreigners have told their interrogators that they had wanted to go to Madagascar in their yacht 'Androno'' which is owned by Pinal, and were to travel through the Sea of Eaden.
But owning to the fear of sea pirates, they had diverted to the Indian Ocean and reached Oman on October 12, officials said quoting the statement.
CISF commandant D Shyamala had led the interrogation and has seized valid passports and travel documents that indicated that the duo had left the shores of Oman October 12, sources said.
CISF officers told rediff.com that the foreigners seemed to be genuine travelers and they had not found anything incriminating from the yacht.
However questions are being raised on the failure of agencies like the coast guard and navy, which are patrolling the sea round the clock.
The two foreigners have reportedly told interrogating officials that they had not been intercepted by any of the patrolling agencies during their trip from the Indian sea borders at Kavarathy Island in Lakshadweep.
Coast guard and naval officials denied the charges.