Indian police have announced plans to seek details from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service as part of their investigation into a large drug smuggling operation. The investigation follows the discovery of over 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) of methamphetamine worth an estimated $4.25 billion in Indian waters. The drugs were found last week in a Myanmar boat near the Andaman and Nicobar islands, marking the first instance of Starlink’s satellite device being used by smugglers to navigate deep seas.
The seizure represents the largest drug bust of its kind in the region. Six Myanmar nationals were detained in connection with the operation. Hargobinder S. Dhaliwal, a senior police officer in the Andaman islands overseeing the case, expressed concern over the use of Starlink in this operation. “This case is different because it is bypassing all the legal channels,” Dhaliwal said. He explained that the smugglers had used Starlink’s device to create a Wi-Fi hotspot, enabling them to directly operate phones via satellite.
Police intend to contact Starlink to obtain key details such as who purchased the device, when it was bought, and its usage history. “They (smugglers) were using Starlink since their journey started from Myanmar,” Dhaliwal added.
Starlink, which provides coverage in international waters and plans to launch in India, has stated that its coverage in territorial waters is contingent upon government approval. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Authorities in the Andaman and Nicobar islands have estimated that the seized methamphetamine could have a retail market value of 360 billion rupees ($4.25 billion).
(Source: DAWN)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
