Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 26 November 2024
In a record-breaking operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) under the Andaman and Nicobar Command apprehended a Myanmarese fishing vessel, “Soe Wai Yan Htoo,” carrying approximately 5500 kilograms of methamphetamine. This monumental drug bust, valued at thousands of crores in the international market, marks the largest seizure of illicit substances in Indian maritime history.
The operation was initiated on 23 November, when a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft detected a suspicious boat during a routine reconnaissance sortie over the Andaman Sea. The aircraft relayed the information to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC) at the Headquarters of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, which promptly deployed the Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Aruna Asaf Ali, captained by Commandant (Junior Grade) Ankit Sharma.
Despite challenging sea conditions, the patrol vessel intercepted and shadowed the suspicious boat, eventually boarding it on the morning of 24 November when it was eight nautical miles off Barren Island, within Indian territorial waters. Upon inspection, the crew discovered 5500 kilograms of a white crystalline substance suspected to be contraband, along with a portable Inmarsat satellite phone.
The boat, manned by six Myanmarese nationals, was seized and brought to Sri Vijaya Puram by early morning on 25 November for further investigation. Local police and drug enforcement agencies confirmed that the substance was pure methamphetamine.
This unprecedented haul underscores the Indian Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime borders and curbing the trafficking of illegal substances. Enhanced patrolling, surveillance, and intelligence-sharing have proven instrumental in intercepting such criminal activities.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining the security of Indian waters, highlighting its motto, “Sanghe Shakti” (Together We are Stronger).
This operation serves as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerabilities to international drug trafficking and the critical role of coordinated maritime security efforts in ensuring national safety.