41 foreign poachers apprehended within 7 days in Andaman

Port Blair, Mar 29 (UNI) The Andaman and Nicobar Police and Coast Guards have apprehended at least 41 poachers from the sea around the islands since last one week.

After a well-coordinated operation on March 25, the Indian Coast Guard apprehend 17 poachers on-board a Thai boat in Indian waters.

They also said that two were Thai nationals and some of the others were found to be Myanmarese, who were involved in illegal fishing and collection sea cucumbers.

''Diving compressors and other diving accessories were found onboard dinghies,'' Public Relation Officer of Indian Coast Guard in Andaman Commandant Akshay Jain told UNI today.

On March 21, the Andaman and Nicobar Police apprehended 26 Myanmarese poachers from the Defence Island and Patrick Island of Middle Andaman Region.

Experts believe that this season is the favourite of among the foreign poachers and more such arrests were expected.

The islands were located about 1,200 kms (750 miles) east of the mainland, close to the Malacca Strait, the main sealane between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Home to some of the world's pristine beaches and rare corals, the waters contain the prized fish and sea cucumbers.

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