Nine Myanmarese nationals were apprehended during an anti-poaching operation in the coastal areas of North and Middle Andaman district, where approximately 350 kilograms of sea cucumbers were seized from a wooden engine dinghy.
The operation, conducted under the name “Operation Sea Vigil”, was launched on March 15, 2026, following specific intelligence inputs about illegal poaching activity in vulnerable coastal stretches under the jurisdiction of Kalighat police station. The action was carried out with support from the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
A specialised anti-poaching team carried out combing operations across coastal creeks and mangrove belts identified as potential transit and harvesting zones. During the operation, a wooden engine dinghy was intercepted with nine Myanmarese nationals onboard.
N&M Andaman District Police said six individuals were detained at the spot, while three others fled into the surrounding mangrove forest. A search of the intercepted vessel led to the recovery of approximately 350 kg of sea cucumbers, a protected marine species often targeted for illegal trade. The dinghy, along with all materials found onboard, was seized.
Search operations continued the following day, on March 16, when the anti-poaching team resumed combing efforts in the mangrove areas. The remaining three individuals who had escaped earlier were located and apprehended while hiding in the forested terrain. With these arrests, the total number of individuals held in connection with the operation rose to nine.
All nine apprehended persons, along with the seized materials, have been taken into custody for further legal proceedings under relevant laws. N&M Andaman District Police said action is being pursued in accordance with existing provisions related to wildlife protection and illegal fishing activities.
The operation focused on areas considered vulnerable due to their ecological sensitivity and proximity to international maritime boundaries. Coastal creeks and mangrove ecosystems in the Andaman region serve as habitats for protected marine species, including sea cucumbers, which are subject to strict regulatory controls due to their ecological role.
Sea cucumbers are listed under protected categories in India, and their collection, possession and trade remain prohibited. Despite these restrictions, illegal harvesting continues due to demand in international markets.
The interception of the dinghy and subsequent arrests indicate continued cross-border poaching attempts in the region’s coastal waters. Such activities have been reported in remote and difficult-to-monitor mangrove areas.
N&M Andaman District Police indicated that monitoring and enforcement measures are ongoing in sensitive coastal zones to address illegal exploitation of marine resources. The case remains under investigation, and further legal action will follow based on the materials seized and those apprehended.
