The Indian Coast Guard has successfully intercepted a Myanmarese fishing vessel in the Andaman Sea, which was found to be transporting 5,500 kg of methamphetamine along with a satellite phone, marking the largest drug seizure in the agency’s maritime operations to date. The Coast Guard’s Dornier aircraft identified the boat, named ‘Soe Wai Yan Htoo,’ during a reconnaissance mission, prompting the reconnaissance team to report its suspicious activities to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC). In response, the JOC dispatched the Fast Patrol Vessel, ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali, to engage the vessel, which was flagged from Myanmar and did not conform to the characteristics of local Indian boats. The Coast Guard maintained surveillance on the vessel until the early hours of Sunday, ultimately boarding it for inspection at 0630 hours on November 24, when it was located eight nautical miles off Barren Island within Indian territorial waters. The crew, consisting of six Myanmarese nationals, was found aboard, and a thorough search revealed the substantial quantity of white crystalline substance, suspected to be illegal drugs, along with a portable Inmarsat satellite phone.
Consequently, the vessel was seized and escorted to Sri Vijaya Puram, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for further investigation.This operation represents the most significant drug seizure in the history of the Indian Coast Guard’s maritime enforcement efforts. Recently, there has been an increase in the detection of Rohingya boats and Myanmarese poachers in the Andaman Sea, leading to heightened surveillance in the area. This vigilance was further reinforced by intelligence gathered during the joint interrogation of a previously apprehended poacher, which underscored the need for ongoing monitoring of maritime activities in the region.
