American tourists arrested after bringing diet coke to remote tribes on Taboo Island, another American killed

Indian police said Thursday they arrested an American tourist who sneaked into a strictly-secured island carrying coconuts and a can of dietary coke to an unpopular tribe in the modern world. The incident happened in another American seven years later Being killed By the tribes on the same island.

Mykhailo Viktorov, 24, set foot on the restricted territory of the Northern Sentinel, part of India’s Andaman Islands, to meet the Sentinels, who are believed to have only 150 people.

All outsiders, Indians and foreigners are prohibited from traveling within three miles of the island to protect the indigenous people from external diseases and protect their own way of life.

“A U.S. citizen was dispatched to the District Court after being arrested and is now in a three-day remand for further trial,” Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Commissioner HGS Dhaliwal told AFP.

Satellite photos show an island of coral reefs that stretches to six miles at the widest point – dense forests and white sandy beaches.

Sentinelese last made international headlines in 2018 Kill John Allen27 years old, an American missionary landed illegally on the beach.

Joe’s body was not recovered, and no investigation into his death was conducted as Indian law prohibited anyone from going to the island. The officials at the time said he was obviously shot to death. Killed by arrows.

India believes that the wider Andaman and Nicobar Islands are strategically positioned on key global transport routes. They are closer to Myanmar than mainland India.

New Delhi plans to invest at least $9 billion to expand naval and aviation bases, force accommodation, ports and major cities in the region.

“Reckless and stupid”

Dhaliwal said Polyakov had been whistling on the coast of North Sentinel Island for about an hour to draw the tribe’s attention before getting ashore.

“He landed briefly for about five minutes, placed the offering on the shore, collected sand samples, and recorded a video before returning to the ship,” Dalivar said. “Comments on his GoPro camera lens showed his entry and landing on the restricted North Sentinel Island.”

Police said Polikov was arrested late Monday about two days after he landed ashore and visited the area twice in recent months.

Police said Thursday that he first used an inflatable kayaking in October 2024 but was stopped by hotel staff. Polikov made another failed attempt on a visit in January 2025.

This time, Polikov used another inflatable boat with electric motors to travel about 22 miles of the high seas from the main archipelago.

Charity Survival International issued a statement saying Polikov’s actions were “deeply disturbing/”

“Beggar believe that someone might be the kind of reckless and stupid person,” said Pierce, the group’s director. “This person’s behavior not only endangers his own life, but also puts the lives of the entire Sentinel tribe at risk. So far, it is known that the untouched nations have no immunity to common external diseases such as influenza or measles, which can completely eliminate them.”

The language and customs of the sentinels remain a mystery to the outsiders, who avoided everyone and recorded the hostile records of those who were trying to approach.

Twenty years ago, a photo from the Indian Coast Guard and International Survival International showed an outpost man aiming at a helicopter with a ship and arrow.

Indian authorities have prosecuted any locals who helped enter the island and tried to identify anyone who might help Polyav.

The Andamans are also home to 400 Jarawa tribes, and activists say he is also threatened by outsiders’ contact. Visitors have previously bribed local officials to spend time with Jarawa.