Heather Mackins, a 38-year-old hiker from Scotland, was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi for possessing a Garmin inReach satellite device, which is illegal in India without prior permission. Mackins was en route to a yoga retreat in the Rishikesh mountains when the incident occurred. She described the experience as “overwhelming” and cautioned others against similar mistakes.
Despite contacting the embassy, she was taken to a police station, questioned, and required to sign multiple documents before being released on the condition of attending a future court hearing. This case mirrors a previous incident involving a Canadian national detained for a similar offense. The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office is providing support to Mackins and reiterated travel advisories regarding the illegality of satellite phones in India.