Port Blair, Oct. 9: The Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft continuing their drive to strengthen Coastal Security in the A& N Islands, once again apprehended one boat alongwith 07 Myanmarese poachers.  The Coast Guard Dornier on a Coastal Surveillance sortie, under the command of Commandant (JG) Anurag Chaudhari, reported sighting of one suspected Myanmarese boat South West off  Narcondum Island.  On receipt of information, the Coast Guard Ship ICGS Akka Devi on surveillance in Northern Group Islands was immediately diverted and C-145 based at Diglipur was also sailed with dispatch.  The Coast Guard Dornier was again launched at 1535 hrs on 08 Oct 12 to track the boat.  On sighting the Coast Guard aircraft, the Myanmarese boat attempted to escape by increasing speed and frequently altering courses.  Finally, the Coast Guard Ship C-145, under the command of Commandant(JG) S R Nagendran  successfully apprehended  one boat alongwith 07 Myanmarese poachers 37 NM North East of Barren Island at 1640 hrs on 08 Oct 12 after a perfect sear-air coordinated operation which lasted for four  hours.

The apprehended boat is in possession of Diving air compressor with diving gears to undertake extraction of Sea Cucumber from our Exclusive Economic Zone.  The apprehended boat and poachers were escorted by ICGS Akka Devi, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Ashish Dubey to Diglipur.  The 10 mtr Myanmarese wooden boat along with 07 poachers was brought to Diglipur AM 09 Oct 12 and handed over to Local Police for legal formalities.  A communiqué received from Coast Guard Regional Headquarters, Andaman and Nicobar.