How maritime crime is becoming a means of funding terrorism and hybrid threats in the Indian Ocean

News India Live, Digital Desk: The Indian Ocean, one of the world’s most important trade routes, is no longer limited to the movement of merchant ships only. In the last few years, this region has become a hotbed of maritime crimes, which is posing a serious ‘Hybrid Threat’ not only to the peace of the region but also to the national security of many countries including India.

Simply put, money earned from maritime crimes such as drugs, weapons, human trafficking and illegal fishing is now being used directly to fund terrorism and other destabilizing activities.

What are ‘grey ploughs’ and ‘white boats’?

To understand this whole game, it is important to know the meaning of these two words:

• White Boats: These are ordinary commercial or civilian vessels, such as fishing boats, cargo ships or private yachts. Criminals use these common ships to hide their illegal activities. From the outside, these appear to be normal boats, but from inside they are smuggling drugs, weapons or illegal goods.
• Gray Hulls: This term is used for ships of the Navy or Coast Guard, whose job is to enforce law and protect the sea. However, many times rebel groups or terrorist organizations purchase or capture old naval ships and use them for their wrongdoings, making them difficult to identify.

How is maritime crime funding hybrid threats?

Crimes at sea are no longer limited to just theft or robbery. This has become a very large and organized network, whose links are directly linked to terrorism:

1. Drugs and weapons trafficking: This is the biggest source. Large consignments of drugs are sent across the world from Afghanistan and Iran via the Indian Ocean. The money that comes from this is used by terrorist organizations to buy weapons, recruit new fighters and plan attacks.
2. Illegal Fishing: This may sound like a small crime, but it is a huge danger. Many terrorist groups use illegal fishing boats to hide their activities. They spy through these boats, transport weapons from one place to another and use the money earned from them for terrorist funding.
3. Terror of Pirates: Pirates are still active off the coast of Somalia. They hijack ships and collect huge ransom. Intelligence reports have shown that a large part of this ransom reaches terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab.
4. Human Trafficking: The Indian Ocean is also being used for human trafficking, the money earned from which also strengthens terrorist groups.

What is the challenge for India?

India has a very long maritime border and a central position in the Indian Ocean. The nexus of increasing maritime crime and terrorism in the region is a direct threat to India. These are called ‘High-Threats’ (Hybrid Threats) because along with conventional war, they are also attacked through economic, political and informational means, so that the country can be weakened from within.

To deal with this challenge, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard are continuously monitoring and also conducting joint exercises with other countries so that this dangerous network can be broken. This battle is being fought not only in the sea but also on land with the help of intelligence and international cooperation.