A suspicious small barge type vessel was spotted off Bhuigaon beach in Vasai West on Thursday, spreading panic among locals. The local police were alerted by informers. Later, Vasai police informed the Coast Guard officials in Mumbai. The probe is on to find more about the boat.

Coast Guard officials carried out an aerial survey of the Bhuigaon beach and hovered over the suspicious vessel but could not see movement of anybody on board, said a senior official from Coast Guard.