Four citizens of Philippines were arrested by personnel of Arjyapalli marine police station in Ganjam district of Odisha on Sunday afternoon on charges of illegally using satellite phone on Indian soil.

The police seized one satellite phone from their possession. They were arrested from Gopalpur port. The arrested Philippine nationals had reached Gopalpur port in a cargo ship. The ship in which they have travelled to Odisha coast has reached the port to carry export cargo for OSCOM, a unit of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL).

According to Ashok Parida, inspector in-charge of marine police station, on Sunday they had intercepted satellite phone calls from Gopalpur port premises. It was found that the satellite phone was being used illegally.

Immediately a police team tracked down on the users and arrested the four Philippine nationals.

The accused had reached Gopalpur port in a ship to carry export cargo for OSCOM