DIGLIPUR: A suspected foreign poaching operation was foiled in the coastal waters of Diglipur after North & Middle Andaman District Police, in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, seized a dinghy carrying around 300 kg of sea cucumber and lifesaving equipment. The operation, launched on July 28 under ‘Operation Blue Shield’, followed credible information provided by a local fisherman about the presence of a suspected foreign poacher’s dinghy in the area.
Acting swiftly on the input, security teams mounted a coordinated search after a suspicious dinghy was reported near Hiran Tikrey, behind Smith Island. The vessel was eventually traced near Smith Island, but was found abandoned. A search of the dinghy led to the recovery of approximately 300 kg of sea cucumber, along with lifesaving equipment. The seized items were taken into custody following due legal procedure.
The suspected foreign poachers, however, managed to escape from the dinghy and fled into the adjoining dense forest to evade capture.
Following the development, Anti-Poaching Teams from PS Diglipur, PS Kalighat and PS Mayabunder launched an intensive manhunt. The teams have been conducting sustained patrolling, systematic area combing and intelligence-led searches across the difficult terrain while maintaining close surveillance of the area.
The coordinated operation reflects heightened enforcement against illegal marine poaching and exploitation of protected marine resources in the strategically sensitive waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Teams continue to maintain pressure in the area in an effort to track down and apprehend the fleeing poachers.
