US tourist arrested from Kerala for possessing satellite phone

Thiruvananthapuram: A 31-year-old American tourist was arrested after being allegedly found in possession of a satellite phone, banned in India, while on his way to board a flight back home at the airport here, police said on Sunday.

Marks Jordan Andrew, a US citizen, was detained yesterday after Immigration officials found the satellite phone in his bag.

He was questioned by CISF, in-charge of airport security, and later handed over to local police.

The American was arrested and a case registered under the Wireless and Telegraph Act, police said.

He was produced before a city court which remanded him to 14 days judicial custody.

Andrew, hailing from California, had arrived here via Mumbai-Bengaluru and was on his way back to US via Dubai when he was intercepted.

Police said Andrew told them that he was unaware that satellite phones are banned in the country.