Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), April 17: Police have recovered 254.7 grams of crystalline methamphetamine from a jungle stretch near the Dugong Creek coast in Hut Bay, in what officials described as a major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on narcotics in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to a press release issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District, the recovery followed a tip-off received on April 14 by Inspector Pritam Behari, Station House Officer of Hut Bay Police Station. The information was relayed by Head Constable Anoon Pradeep Toppo, who is in charge of the Dugong Creek outpost, after a suspicious packet was spotted during routine jungle patrolling in the Pagla Mundi forest area.
Police department sources said the packet was noticed lying unattended near the seashore amid dense foliage, prompting immediate field action.
A raiding team was subsequently formed under the leadership of Inspector Behari. The operation was carried out in the presence of Executive Magistrate Ajoy Mandal, Tehsildar of Little Andaman, while representatives of local Panchayati Raj Institutions also accompanied the team.
During an intensive search of the coastal forest stretch near Dugong Creek, the team recovered a transparent packet concealed under dry leaves. Officials said the contents tested positive for methamphetamine when examined using a drug detection kit.
Police said the seized contraband weighed 254.7 grams and was taken into custody after due legal procedure was followed. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and further investigation is under way to establish the origin of the consignment, its intended destination and the people involved.
Officials said the success of the operation was made possible by the alertness of ground personnel. Head Constable Toppo, along with Home Guard Volunteers Jhaj and Raja, who belong to the Onge community, played a key role in spotting the suspicious packet during patrol and informing the police in time.
Remote route risk
The recovery has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of remote coastal and forested stretches in the islands, which investigators believe can be exploited by traffickers to stash or move contraband discreetly. Police sources indicated that the isolated location of the seizure suggests the packet may either have been abandoned during transit or concealed for later retrieval.
Such areas, particularly along sparsely populated coastal belts and dense jungle terrain, pose obvious surveillance challenges because of difficult access, low visibility and the absence of regular civilian movement. Investigators are now examining whether the seized methamphetamine was part of a larger consignment and whether there are links to a broader trafficking network attempting to use remote routes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The seizure also underlines the importance of local intelligence and sustained field patrolling in interdiction efforts, especially in vulnerable pockets far from urban centres. Officials said coordinated action between police, magistracy and local representatives remains critical in such operations, both for legal compliance and for maintaining public confidence.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior officers, including Deependra Kumar Singh, DANIPS, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Swaraj Dweep.
The South Andaman Police have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to drug trafficking or other crimes. Officials said information can be shared through emergency helpline 112, the Police Control Room, or the office of the Superintendent of Police, and assured that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.
