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NEW DELHI: During an investigation into the drug haul of 6,000 kg methamphetamine, Andaman and Nicobar Islands police on Thursday found out that the Myanmarese smugglers used the Starlink satellite internet services for navigation through the mid-sea.
Elon Musk’s Starlink is the aerospace company that offers coverage in over 100 countries, barring India.
“On November 23, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended six Myanmarese smugglers who were transporting 6,000 kg of methamphetamine, worth Rs 36,000 crore, in a fishing trawler. We seized several items from the trawler, including Myanmar currency, a portable Inmarsat satellite mobile, SIM cards from multiple countries, and notably, a dish from SpaceX‘s Starlink mini version,” Andaman and Nicobar Islands DGP Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal told news agency PTI.
Dhaliwal further added: “This is the first time in India that we’ve encountered smugglers using Starlink for high-speed internet connectivity to navigate through rough seas and remote regions. We’ve confirmed that Starlink isn’t available in Myanmar, but it is available in nearby countries like Indonesia, Australia, and Thailand.”
“We will conduct further inquiries with SpaceX regarding the purchase details, including who bought the device, when it was purchased, the stated purpose for obtaining Starlink services, and its usage history,” the DGP said.
“Today, we will complete sampling of the seized drugs. The consignment wasn’t intended for delivery in India, but the smugglers did make contact with someone in India. We are investigating whether a small portion of the drugs was meant for India,” he added.
Dhaliwal added, “The smugglers used Starlink because it can withstand extreme conditions while at sea.”
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