Indian Police Request Starlink Information Following $4.25 Billion Drug Seizure

Indian law enforcement officials have stated they contacted Elon Musk’s Starlink to request information, following the alleged discovery of drug traffickers employing its satellite internet device for navigation within Indian waters and to access the nation’s coastline. Starlink advertises the provision of superfast broadband “almost anywhere on Earth”. However, the company currently lacks authorization to offer coverage in India or its territorial waters. The Indian Coast Guard reported last week that the device was located on a Myanmar vessel, which they intercepted close to the Andaman and Nicobar islands. This operation represented the largest drug seizure ever conducted by the Coast Guard, according to authorities. Reports indicate that 6,000kg (13,227 lb) of methamphetamine were confiscated from the boat. Police assessed the value of the haul at $4.25bn (£3.35bn). Authorities in the Indian archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar have confirmed the apprehension of six Myanmar nationals in connection with this incident. Starlink has been working towards launching its services in India since 2021, but its introduction has been postponed due to regulatory challenges. The company also encounters strong competition from Reliance Jio, owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Hargobinder S Dhaliwal, the police chief for the Andaman islands, stated that the event from last week prompted heightened vigilance among authorities, given that the deployment of Starlink’s mini device circumvented official legal procedures. The company’s official website characterizes the device as “a compact, portable kit that can easily fit in a backpack”. In a press statement released on Monday, Mr. Dhaliwal indicated that the drug smugglers commenced utilizing Starlink from the start of their voyage originating from Myanmar. He further elaborated, “They directly operated [phones] with satellite, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot.” The Andaman police have subsequently sent a written request to Starlink, seeking comprehensive details about the device, specifically who purchased it, the date of purchase, and its usage history since acquisition. Additionally, they are probing the potential involvement of any domestic or international criminal organizations in the transportation of the illicit drug. The BBC has reached out to Starlink for a statement. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.