Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a landmark operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) made a historic drug seizure today by intercepting a Myanmarese fishing boat, Soe Wai Yan Htoo, in the Andaman Sea, recovering 5,500 kg of methamphetamine. This marks the largest-ever drug haul in India’s maritime history.
The operation began when the Coast Guard’s Dornier aircraft, conducting a routine reconnaissance mission, spotted suspicious activity aboard the vessel. The reconnaissance team immediately flagged the boat’s unusual operations to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC), which quickly deployed the Fast Patrol Vessel, ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali, to investigate further.
The boat, displaying the Myanmar flag and not resembling a local Indian vessel, was carefully monitored by the Coast Guard. The operation reached its climax in the early hours of Sunday, November 24, 2024, when the Aruna Asaf Ali successfully intercepted the boat approximately eight nautical miles off Barren Island in Indian territorial waters.
Upon boarding the vessel at around 6:30 AM, the Coast Guard discovered six crew members, all identified as Myanmarese nationals. A subsequent search revealed the massive drug cache—5,500 kg of white crystalline substance, later confirmed to be methamphetamine—as well as a portable Inmarsat satellite phone.
The apprehended vessel was escorted to Sri Vijaya Puram, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where investigations into the seizure are underway. Officials stressed that the operation highlights a growing trend of drug trafficking and illegal activities in the Andaman Sea, an area increasingly affected by the presence of Rohingya boats and Myanmarese poachers in recent months.
The successful operation follows heightened surveillance measures, spurred by intelligence gathered from a joint interrogation of a recently apprehended poacher. This seizure reflects the Indian Coast Guard’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding India’s maritime borders and combating illegal trafficking in the region.
As authorities continue their investigation, this unprecedented drug bust serves as a reminder of the persistent challenges in tackling transnational crime and the importance of ongoing vigilance in maintaining maritime security.
