Port Blair: In a coordinated operation, the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) and the union territory police successfully arrested six Myanmarese poachers from Tillang Chong Island, a remote part of the archipelago. The operation, named “Castle Bay,” was launched after intelligence indicated the presence of foreign poachers in the area. The arrested individuals are being brought to the Nancowry police station on November 16 for further investigation.

The operation was triggered on November 8 when a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft, on routine patrol, spotted an abandoned foreign boat laden with a large quantity of sea cucumbers near the eastern side of Tillang Chong. The pilot promptly informed the ANC, and IRBN officials stationed at Tillang Chong Look-Out-Post (LoP) were also alerted. Sea cucumbers are highly endangered marine species that play a crucial ecological role by cleaning the ocean floor and are sought after internationally for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Executing the operation was challenging due to the island’s difficult terrain, especially after sunset. The Andaman Police DGP, Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, said the police team, supported by army detachments on the ground, along with the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, conducted an intensive search. Drones were deployed to aid surveillance, ensuring comprehensive coverage. On November 15, the team successfully apprehended six poachers hiding in the dense jungle.

The DGP praised the coordination between the police and ANC and reaffirmed the force’s commitment to protecting the fragile island ecosystem and safeguarding India’s maritime boundaries. He also noted that teams remain deployed to search for any additional poachers in the area.

This arrest is part of a continuing crackdown on foreign poaching in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In September, the police had apprehended 23 foreign poachers and seized nearly 550 kilograms of sea cucumbers. Historical data from the Andaman and Nicobar Police shows a steady number of arrests of Myanmarese poachers in recent years: 66 in 2022, 98 in 2023, 70 in 2024, and 73 so far in 2025.

The operation highlights the persistent threat posed by illegal poaching in India’s waters and underscores the efforts of security forces to protect endangered marine life and maintain ecological balance in the sensitive Andaman and Nicobar Islands.