The Andaman and Nicobar Police have seized 12.775 kilograms of methamphetamine in a series of raids conducted over a 21-day period, marking one of the largest drug busts in the islands. The operations were supervised by the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) and executed by Police Station Chatham, reflecting the administration’s firm stance on its zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.
The crackdown began on August 9 when a team from PS Chatham, led by Inspector Ranga Raj, raided AIR Road at Delanipur, Sri Vijaya Puram. The operation, conducted under the supervision of Ajay Rai, SDPO (South Andaman), resulted in the arrest of 37-year-old K. Suresh of Ranchi Basti, School Line. Police recovered 555 grams of methamphetamine intended for sale at inflated prices. A case under the NDPS Act was registered immediately.
Interrogation of the accused revealed that he had sourced the contraband from Mayabunder. Acting on the lead, the team, including ASI Muthu Kannan and PC Arun Halder, proceeded to Mayabunder, where two fishermen , Saw Geykhu (32) of Karmatang No.10 and Saw Herald (24) of Webi , were apprehended. A raid recovered 2.055 kg of methamphetamine, and the vehicle used to transport the substance was seized.
Investigations showed that Saw Herald had discovered methamphetamine while fishing near Arguna close to Dhani Nallah beach. He passed it on to Saw Geykhu, who later supplied it to K. Suresh for sale in Sri Vijaya Puram. Officials noted that the drugs were being targeted at the island’s youth, with traffickers hoping to profit from high street prices.
Further intelligence led to another breakthrough on August 26. A PS Chatham team once again led by Inspector Ranga Raj carried out a raid at R.K. Pur in Little Andaman. During the operation, police apprehended 48-year-old Pranab Kumar Roy and recovered 1.045 kg of methamphetamine from his possession. His disclosure statement led investigators to Dinghi Ghat, R.K. Pur, where an additional 9.12 kg of methamphetamine was unearthed.
Authorities said Roy had stumbled upon the contraband nearly three years ago while fishing at R.K. Pur. Instead of reporting the find, he buried it under a tree, planning to sell it later in Sri Vijaya Puram for substantial profit.
With these coordinated raids, the police recovered a total of 12.775 kg of methamphetamine. Officials stressed that the seizure was significant not only in quantity but also in preventing the substance from entering the local market. Methamphetamine is classified under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and offences involving its possession, distribution, or sale can carry punishments of up to 20 years in prison.
The A&N Police reiterated their appeal to the public to share credible information about illegal drug-related activities through helplines 112/100, 236641, 258019, and 224934. Authorities assured that informants’ identities would be kept confidential, underlining the importance of community involvement in combating narcotics.
Officials emphasised that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of sustained intelligence-led policing and inter-agency coordination. The series of raids, conducted across three locations in the islands, highlighted both the persistence of drug trafficking routes and the police’s determination to dismantle them.
The bust, one of the largest in recent years, is being seen as a strong message to traffickers and a step towards building a drug-free society in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
