Hiker Heather Mackins. Credit: Instagram @hiker_heather
British traveller Heather Mackins has issued a warning on her Instagram page after being detained at India’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for carrying a Garmin inReach satellite communication device.
Satellite-enabled gadgets are strictly prohibited under India’s archaic Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933.
Why are satellite devices illegal in India?
India’s Wireless Telegraphy Act was originally introduced to regulate radio licence fees. It now restricts the use of satellite communication devices without a government-issued licence. The law gained prominence after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where satellite phones were used to coordinate deadly assaults that claimed over 170 lives. Possessing an illegal device can lead to a fine of ₹1,000 (approximately €11) or a prison sentence of up to three years.
While GPS devices used for navigation are permitted, gadgets like Garmin inReach, which facilitate text messaging, SOS alerts, and weather updates via satellites, fall under the ban.
According to Mail Online, Mackins’ incident on New Year’s Day came two days after the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice, explicitly telling Brits not to travel to India with satellite communication devices: ‘It is illegal to possess and operate satellite phones in India without a licence.’
Hiker Heather Mackins detained in Indian airport
Heather, an experienced hiker from Yorkshire, was travelling to Rishikesh, a popular destination for spiritual retreats, when her device was flagged during airport security checks. In an emotional Instagram post, she recounted being detained for nearly 11 hours, denied water, and handed over to the police. She explained:
“I innocently placed my Garmin inReach in the tray to go through the scanner. I was promptly pulled aside by security and told to wait.”
Heather was released on the condition that she remains in India to attend a court hearing.
Similar incidents have involved other international travellers, according to reports by Mail Online, including a Canadian trail runner detained in Goa for carrying a GPS device. In 2022, Saudi Aramco executive Fergus MacLeod was arrested for bringing a satellite phone into India and described his week in a communal prison cell as “traumatic.”
Despite growing calls to modernise the nearly century-old legislation, enforcement remains strict, leaving travellers vulnerable to significant legal challenges.
Travellers planning a trip to India are advised to thoroughly check the country’s laws regarding satellite devices. The Garmin website explicitly states: ‘Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws.’
In response to Heather’s arrest, an FCDO spokesperson told Mail Online, “We are aware of the British national who was stopped at Delhi airport and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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View all articles by Letara Draghia.