The Indian Coast Guard has made a historic drug seizure, capturing a Myanmarese fishing boat in Andaman seas carrying approximately 5500 kgs of methamphetamine along with one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone. This is the largest drug haul in the maritime history of India.
In the recent past there has been a rise in sighting of Rohingya boats and Myanmarese poachers in Andaman seas, according to the coast guard.
The Andaman seas were kept under strict surveillance owing to recent inputs revealed during joint interrogation of apprehended poacher.
The operation began when an Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft whilst on reconnaissance sortie detected a boat which was operating in suspicious manner.
The information was passed on to the Joint Operation Centre, which deployed the ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali to intercept the suspicious Myanmarese boat.
Despite rough sea conditions, the ship proceeded to intercept the suspicious boat, which was flying Myanmar flag.
The ICG Ship boarded the boat for investigation on November 24 when the boat was 08 nm off Barren Island in Indian territorial waters and the joint interrogation was carried out.
The Coast Guard found six Myanmarese crew members and approximately 5500 kgs of white crystalline compound onboard along with one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone.
The white crystalline compound was anticipated to be contraband and hence boat was apprehended.
The boat was then taken to Sri Vijaya Puram for further investigation. The ICG Ship along with the apprehended boat entered Sri Vijaya Puram on November 25.
In a coordinated sea & air operation @IndiaCoastGuard today made history by apprehending a #Myanmarese fishing boat, "Soe Wai Yan Htoo," in the #Andaman Seas with approx 5500 kgs of Methamphetamine. This major drug haul marks the largest maritime seizure in #India’s domain,… pic.twitter.com/YxYN5QJjCa
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) November 25, 2024
Video credit: Indian Coast Guard
