Sri Vijaya Puram | March 16, 2026
In a major anti-poaching operation, the North & Middle Andaman District Police apprehended nine Myanmarese poachers and seized a wooden engine dinghy carrying approximately 350 kg of sea cucumbers during “Operation Sea Vigil”, launched to curb illegal marine exploitation in vulnerable coastal areas.
According to police, the operation was launched on March 15, 2026, under the jurisdiction of Police Station Kalighat, following credible intelligence about illegal poaching activities in the region. The operation was conducted with assistance from the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC).
A specialised Anti-Poaching Team carried out intensive combing operations across coastal creeks and mangrove belts in the area. During the operation, police intercepted a wooden engine dinghy carrying nine Myanmarese nationals suspected of engaging in illegal sea cucumber poaching.
While six poachers were immediately apprehended, three others managed to escape into the dense mangrove forest.
Upon inspection of the intercepted dinghy, the team recovered around 350 kilograms of sea cucumbers, a protected marine species. The engine dinghy along with all materials found onboard was seized by the police.
On March 16, 2026, the Anti-Poaching Team resumed search operations in the mangrove areas and successfully tracked down and apprehended the remaining three absconding poachers, who had been hiding in the forest. With this, the total number of arrests in the operation rose to nine.
All apprehended individuals along with the seized materials have been taken into custody for further legal action under relevant laws, police said.
Officials stated that the successful operation underscores the strong commitment of the North & Middle Andaman District Police, in coordination with ANC, to protect the fragile marine ecosystem and curb the illegal exploitation of marine resources in the Islands.
The police reiterated their zero-tolerance policy against poaching activities in the region.
Members of the public have been urged to share any credible information regarding crime or illegal activities with the nearest police station or through the helpline numbers 100, 112, or 03192-273344. Authorities assured that the identity of informers will be kept strictly confidential, and suitable rewards will be provided for actionable information.
