Two Onge tribal Home Guard volunteers were felicitated at Police Headquarters in Sri Vijaya Puram for their role in a major narcotics recovery that led to the seizure of nearly seven kilograms of methamphetamine during a forest patrol operation in South Andaman.
The recognition was accorded to Raja and Jhaj for their assistance in detecting and recovering 6.979 kilograms of methamphetamine during a jungle foot patrol conducted on January 16 near Pagla Mundi under the jurisdiction of Hut Bay police station. The seizure was made in a dense forest area where the contraband had been concealed beneath sand and dry foliage.
According to official information, the volunteers were part of routine foot patrolling when they noticed suspicious signs in the forest terrain. Their familiarity with the landscape and alert observation reportedly played a decisive role in locating the hidden narcotics, which were later recovered by police under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The recovery of nearly seven kilograms of methamphetamine is among the significant drug seizures reported from the southern part of the islands in recent months and is being viewed by enforcement agencies as a crucial interception in the ongoing effort to curb narcotics trafficking through forest and coastal routes.
Police officials highlighted that the involvement of the two volunteers marked the first instance of members belonging to a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group being formally inducted into active field operations and contributing directly to a major narcotics case. Their participation is being seen as an operational milestone in expanding community-linked policing initiatives in remote and forested areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During a special ceremony held on February 24 at the Police Headquarters, the Director General of Police of the Andaman and Nicobar Police felicitated the two volunteers for their contribution. Both Raja and Jhaj were awarded a cash reward of ₹10,000 each along with a Commendation Certificate in recognition of their role in the recovery.
Officials noted that the operation demonstrated the growing emphasis on integrating local knowledge into enforcement strategies, particularly in geographically challenging zones such as forest interiors and coastal belts. The Onge volunteers’ understanding of terrain, movement patterns and natural markers is believed to have significantly strengthened the effectiveness of the patrol.
The police department reiterated that community participation has become a key pillar of its broader strategy to prevent drug trafficking in the islands, where smugglers often attempt to exploit isolated locations and difficult landscapes to conceal contraband. The case is also being cited as an example of how inclusive policing models can enhance surveillance capacity without compromising operational discipline.
Authorities further stated that enforcement agencies remain committed to strict action against narcotics-related offences and continue to rely on public cooperation for timely intelligence and reporting. Residents have been urged to share information related to suspicious activities, drug movement or other illegal operations through established police helplines.
The felicitation of the two volunteers comes amid intensified anti-narcotics efforts across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with law enforcement agencies focusing on forest routes, coastal access points and inter-island movement to disrupt supply chains linked to synthetic drugs.
