Port Blair, Mar 13: In a well-coordinated sea-air operation Indian Coast Guard Ship Akkadevi successfully apprehended 11 Myanmarese nationals along with 01 boat and approx 500 kgs of Sea Cucumber off Barren Island on 12 Mar 13.
Initially, the Coast Guard Dornier Aircraft on surveillance on 11 Mar 13 sighted one Myanmarese boat with poachers onboard in 10 DEG channel doing Northerly course. On receipt of information, the operations team at Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (A & N) swung into action. It was appreciated that boat was proceeding to Myanmar on completion of poaching and will cross Barren Island during afternoon hours of 12 Mar 13.
Indian Coast Guard Ship Akkadevi patrolling in area was diverted for interception. To ensure positive tracking till interception, the Coast Guard Dornier was re-launched at 0800 hrs on 12 Mar 13. As appreciated and planned, the Dornier re-located the boat 63 NM South East of Barren Islands at 0925 hrs on 12 Mar 13. On sighting the Coast Guard aircraft the suspicious boat started altering course and speed to avoid apprehension. Coast Guard Dornier continuously tracked the boat and vectored ICGS Akkadevi for interception.
The Indian Coast Guard Dornier Aircraft captained by Commandant Shailender Choudhary and Indian Coast Guard Ship Akkadevi under the command of Lt Commander Ashish Dubey in a perfect sea-air coordinated operation, apprehended 11 Myanmarese poachers along with the boat at 1430 hrs on 12 Mar 13. All the personnel were taken on board and the boat was escorted to Port Blair for handing over formalities. The boat was subsequently handed over to local Police AM 13 Mar 13.
