The Indian Coast Guard achieved a historic milestone by intercepting Myanmar’s fishing boat Soe Wai Yan Htoo in the Andaman Sea, carrying 5,500 kg of methamphetamine and a satellite phone. The operation is the largest ever haul of drugs in India’s maritime history.
The operation began when a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft detected suspicious activity on the ship during reconnaissance. The investigation team showed the flag of the boat’s operations to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC), which immediately deployed a high-speed patrol vessel, ICG ship Aruna Asaf Ali, to intercept the boat.
Displaying the Myanmar flag and not resembling a local Indian ship, the boat was overshadowed by the Coast Guard till Sunday morning. At 6:30 a.m. on November 24, 2024, Aruna Asaf Ali boarded the boat about eight nautical miles from Barren Island in Indian waters. Six crew members, identified as Myanmar nationals, were found on board.
During the full search, the team discovered 5,500 kg of white crystalline matter, which was later confirmed to be methamphetamine, and a portable Inmarsat satellite phone. The boat was seized, and the prohibited items were seized.
The ship was then taken to Sri Vijaya Puram, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for further investigation. Officials highlighted that the seizure indicates a growing trend of drug trafficking and illegal activity in the Andaman Sea, which has seen an increase in the number of Rohingya boats and Myanmar poachers in recent months.
The operation was followed by strict intelligence-based surveillance measures of joint interrogation of a captured poacher, reflecting the Indian Coast Guard’s commitment to maintain maritime security and combat illegal activities.