A US national was apprehended at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Wednesday for allegedly carrying an unauthorised GPS tracking device, officials said.
The incident occurred during the security clearance process, when Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel flagged the presence of the device during routine checks.
The passenger, identified as an American citizen, was scheduled to board Air India flight AI 332 to Bangkok at 8:25 am when the GPS device was detected in his possession.
The equipment in question was reportedly a high-grade GPS tracker manufactured by Garmin, a brand widely used in navigation, adventure sports and geolocation activities.
According to sources, the traveller failed to produce valid authorisation for carrying the device, which is considered a restricted item under Indian law. The use of standalone GPS trackers and satellite-based communication devices is strictly regulated in India.
As per Indian telecommunication and security regulations, carrying GPS devices, satellite phones, or similar advanced tracking equipment without prior approval from the concerned authorities is banned due to potential risks to national security.
Following standard protocol, CISF officials handed the passenger over to the Delhi Police for further investigation. Police have begun probing the purpose of carrying the device and whether the individual was aware of India’s restrictions regarding such equipment.
On January 3, another American national was also detained at IGI airport for carrying a banned GPS satellite phone. That individual, too, failed to present authorisation and was handed over to law enforcement for questioning.