Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 30 November 2024
In a major crackdown, a staggering 6016 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized from a Myanmarese fishing trawler found operating near Barren Island in Andaman Waters. The breakthrough came when an Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft, during a routine patrol, spotted suspicious activity near Barren Island. The Coast Guard ship Aruna Asaf Ali intercepted the trawler on November 23 and detained it the following day.
The six Myanmarese crew onboard the smuggling vessel were arrested by the Police Station Crime and Economic Offence of Andaman and Nicobar Police.
This massive haul has revealed a web of international smuggling and high-tech operations spanning Southeast Asia.
One surprising detail emerged during the investigation by Andaman and Nicobar Police: GPS coordinates of Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) and Rangat, two locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, were found in a device onboard the seized vessel. However, the police haven’t specified which device stored this data, leaving questions about why these locations were marked.
The smugglers didn’t rely on traditional methods. According to the Director General of Police, Andaman and Nicobar Police, who spoke to PTI, the vessel was equipped with a Starlink satellite internet system. Starlink provides internet access even in the remotest areas, including high seas.
Interestingly, Starlink is not available for purchase in Myanmar, the vessel’s origin country, but it can be purchased in other Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia.
The Andaman and Nicobar Police, in a press release, revealed that the boat’s master, identified as a major player in the drug cartel, had traveled multiple times to Tachileik, Myanmar. This border town lies at the heart of the “Golden Triangle,” a notorious hub for methamphetamine production and trafficking.
Reports from Hindustan Times provided further insights into his movements. The accused, Zay Yar Soe, traveled from Yangon to Tachileik on September 28, as confirmed by his boarding pass. His journey wasn’t just casual; it involved crucial planning for the operation. On September 30, he came back to Yangon, where he spent about a week making administrative arrangements.
On October 7, he traveled by air to Kwathoung, a Myanmar-Thailand border town, to finalise delivery location with a buyer. In mid-October, he moved from Kwathoung to Myeik, where he purchased and registered a fishing trawler with a new engine and obtained fishing permits, disguising the smuggling vessel as a legitimate fishing boat. He then sailed from Myeik and arrived at Yangon on November 7. The trawler departed Yangon for Kwathoung on November 20, carrying its illicit cargo.
Police also found an envelope containing 5,000 kyats (Myanmar currency) and a set of coordinates written on it. The coordinates point to a location near Sumatra, Indonesia.
Andaman and Nicobar Police ensured the investigation met all legal and procedural requirements. In compliance with Supreme Court guidelines, the 222 bags of methamphetamine were sampled and certified within 48 hours.
The six Myanmarese nationals onboard the vessel are under intense interrogation. Police and national agencies are working together to dismantle the smuggling network and trace all individuals involved in this elaborate operation.
Reports from the Deccan Herald indicated that the smugglers had reached out to someone in India, though the drugs were not primarily intended for delivery here. Police however are investigating whether a portion of drug was intended for India.
The Andaman Police remain firm in their resolve to combat transnational drug trafficking. Their efforts align with the government’s mission of “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India), championed by the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.
The findings from this case are expected to aid broader efforts against organised crime, demonstrating India’s commitment to tackling drug smuggling on an international scale.
As investigations continue, the authorities aim to uncover the full extent of this cartel’s activities and ensure justice is served.
(Sources: PTI, Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald & Andaman and Nicobar Police Press Release)