Sri Vijaya Puram: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) effected its biggest-ever drug haul from a Myanmarese fishing boat which was carrying approximately 5,500 kgs of prohibited drugs. The boat was apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard in the Andaman Sea today.
The Myanmarese fishing boat ‘Soe Wai Yan Htoo’ was carrying the prohibited drug Methamphetamine along with one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone, the ICG stated.
An Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft, while on reconnaissance sortie, detected the boat which it found to be operating in a “suspicious manner”. The aircraft crew passed on the information to the Joint Operation Centre, which subsequently deployed a Fast Patrol Vessel from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) to intercept the suspicious boat.
A team of the Indian Coast Guard ship boarded the Myanmarese boat for investigation at 0630 hours on November 24, 2024, when the boat was eight nautical miles off Barren Island in Indian Territorial waters and a joint interrogation was carried out. The team identified the six crew onboard the boat as Myanmarese nationals. It was during rummaging that the boarding party found approximately 5,500 kgs of prohibited drug Methamphetamine and one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone.
Subsequently, the boat was brought to Sri Vijaya Puram for further investigation on November 25, 2024.
The Indian Coast Guard reiterated that the seizure is the biggest ever drug haul by ICG and this haul highlighted its commitment to safeguarding Indian territorial waters.
– global bihari bureau
