Indian police probe Starlink's role in $4.25 billion drug bust
What's the story
Indian authorities are investigating the use of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service in a major drug bust.
The satellite internet device was reportedly used by drug traffickers to navigate Indian waters and reach the country's coast.
Despite not having official permission to operate in India or its territorial waters, a Starlink device was discovered on a seized Myanmar boat near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands last week.
Major bust
Record-breaking drug seizure
The Indian Coast Guard's seizure of the Myanmar boat was their largest drug bust to date.
The authorities confiscated an estimated 6,000kg of methamphetamine from the vessel, worth about $4.25 billion.
Following this major discovery, six Myanmar nationals were arrested in connection with the case by police in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Device usage
Starlink device's role in drug trafficking under investigation
Hargobinder S Dhaliwal, police chief of the Andaman islands, noted that the drug traffickers started using the Starlink device from the very beginning of their journey from Myanmar.
"They directly operated [phones] with satellite, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot," he said. This has prompted an investigation into how this compact and portable kit was employed in illegal activities.
Information sought
Police request information from Starlink
The Andaman police have reached out to Starlink for further details about the device used in the drug trafficking operation.
They are looking for information like who bought it and how it was used since purchase.
This investigation is part of a larger probe into possible local or foreign syndicates involved in drug transportation.
Drug trafficking
Methamphetamine seizures reach record high in Asia
Methamphetamine seizures hit a record high of 190 tons (1,90,000kg) in East and Southeast Asia in 2023, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The report also flagged India as an emerging transit and destination market for methamphetamine from Myanmar.
This highlights the importance of the recent drug bust involving the Starlink device, and the necessity of further investigation into its role in these illegal activities.