Coast Guard apprehends Ten Mayanmarese Poachers from Andaman Sea
Port Blair, Mar 12 : In a joint anti-poaching operation, a boat with 10 Myanmarese nationals was apprehended off the Barren Island after a Sea-Air coordinated operation, a Coast Guard official said here today.
Initially, the Coast Guard Dornier Aircraft on surveillance over Andaman Sea reported sighting of one Myanmarese boat with poachers onboard off Narcondum Island on a south westerly course.
"On receipt of information, the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters swung into action and requested the Joint Operations Centre (Coastal Security) for diverting Naval Ship in Area.
Indian Naval Ship operating off the Northern Group of Islands was immediately pressed into action. To ensure positive tracking till interception, the Coast Guard Dornier was again launched at 1500 hrs on March 9," Commmandant Rajeev Sharma, PRO of A & N Coast Guard Region told UNI today.
During the second sortie, the Dornier re-located the boat 35 Nm East of Barren Island, India's lone active volcano, at 1610 hrs.
"On sighting the aircraft, the boat frequently changed course and speed. Despite limited visibility, the Coast Guard Dornier continuously tracked the boat and vectored the Naval Ship for interception. The Naval Ship and Indian Coast Guard Dornier Aircraft in a perfect sea-air coordinated operation, which lasted for around seven hours, apprehended the Myanmarese boat at 2145 hours on March 2013," Commandant Sharma added.
All the personnel were taken on board and the boat was towed to Mayabunder for handing over to local police.
The boat was subsequently handed over to local police for further action.