Some devices are strictly prohibited in India, and anyone caught carrying them may face severe punishment. One such banned device is the Garmin inReach GPS, a satellite communicator. Recently, a Scottish traveler named Heather was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Thursday for carrying this prohibited device. She was heading to Rishikesh when airport security detected the device during a routine check and handed her over to the police.
This incident marks the second case of a foreign national being detained for carrying a GPS device. In December 2024, a Czech citizen was similarly detained at Goa Airport after authorities found a Garmin Edge 540 GPS device, a cycling computer, in their luggage.
Heather shared her experience on Instagram, warning fellow travelers not to bring Garmin inReach or any other satellite communicators to India. She emphasized that such devices are banned in the country. In a video, she mentioned contacting her embassy for assistance but was told they couldn’t help her as she was now under Indian legal jurisdiction. She also claimed that she was not even provided with water during detention.
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Why was the hiker detained?
The Garmin inReach GPS is a satellite communicator equipped with a built-in satellite transmitter. It was found to be in violation of India’s Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933. According to this law, it is illegal to possess or use wireless telegraphy equipment without a valid license.
Following the legal action, Heather posted on her Instagram account urging people not to travel to India with Garmin inReach or any other satellite communicators, as these devices are illegal in the country.