An American “danger tourist” who models himself on Tintin faces up to five years in prison after illegally sailing to a remote island and leaving a can of Coke for the world’s most dangerous and isolated tribe.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, from North Goldwater, Arizona, tried to make contact with the reclusive indigenous inhabitants of North Sentinel Island, part of an Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, which is off limits to visitors to protect the islanders’ way of life.
Indian police said Mr Polyakov travelled to the island in the early hours of Saturday morning using a makeshift craft to cross a 25-mile strait from Kurma Dera beach on South Andaman Island.
“This is it. The last uncontracted tribe. The last mystery. If they see me, will they attack? Or will they accept me?” his Go-Pro camera microphone recorded him whispering as he approached the forbidden island.
Indian police said Mr Polyakov crossed a 25-mile strait from Kurma Dera beach on South Andaman Island
After landing, he briefly stepped out of the boat, left a can of Coca-Cola and a coconut as offerings, collected some sand samples, and then departed.
He returned to Kurma Dera Beach at 7pm, where fishermen spotted him and alerted the police. He was arrested and remains in custody.
Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, director general of Andaman and Nicobar Police, said.“If found guilty, he may face three to five years in prison for breaching the law that prohibits unauthorised entry into the areas inhabited by protected tribes of North Sentinel Island.”
This was not Mr Polyakov’s first attempt to reach the Sentinelese, a pre-Neolithic people who have rebuffed all contact with the outside world, shooting arrows at passing helicopters and killing those landing ashore.
The Sentinelese, a pre-Neolithic people, have rebuffed all contact with the modern world
In October 2024, he prepared a reconnaissance mission using an inflatable kayak but was stopped by hotel staff before he could launch.
In the same month, he posted a cryptic image on his YouTube channel captioned “A little Columbus Day teaser for the fans”.
The image, a cartoon in the style of The Adventures of Tintin, showed a boy with a dog aboard a motorboat approaching an island resembling the one home to the Sentinelese.
Mr Polyakov’s YouTube channel, called “Neo-Orientalist”, revealed other risky adventures including exploring an abandoned US military base in Afghanistan.
In another video taken during a three-week road trip in the Taliban-controlled country, he is seen brandishing an assault rifle alongside Islamist militants.
In January, he returned to the Andaman archipelago, staying in the city of Port Blair while attempting to procure an outboard motor for a boat to make the illicit crossing.
Around this time, he visited Baratang Island, where he illegally filmed the semi-nomadic Jarawa tribe before departing on January 27.
In March, he returned to Port Blair. After fitting the motor to his boat at a workshop, he purchased fuel and checked into the Andaman Sunset View Resort.
Over the following days, he meticulously studied sea conditions, tides and landing sites for the journey.
On March 29, he launched his boat under the cover of darkness, carrying the coconut and Coca-Cola can he intended to give to the island’s inhabitants.
After nine hours at sea, he reached its northeastern shore. Using binoculars, he scanned the area but saw no signs of life.
He then filmed himself wading onto the beach and placing his offerings on the sand.
Authorities said Mr Polyakov’s journey was meticulously planned
The video, later recovered by police, captures him exclaiming: “I have landed here. I am a solo traveller. No one has landed here before. This is anti-climactic. No one has done this before.”
He remained offshore for an hour blowing a whistle in an attempt to attract attention, but received no response. After three hours, he began his return journey, reaching Kurma Dera beach by 7pm where he was spotted by fishermen.
Authorities said he used GPS to navigate seas around the island, they said.
After his arrest on March 31, authorities confiscated Mr Polyakov’s passport, mobile phone and Go-Pro camera.
“The unauthorised entry into the North Sentinel Island is not just a breach of Indian law, but a serious threat to the safety of the both Sentinelese and the individuals involved,” Mr Dhaliwal said.
“Any unlawful attempt to enter restricted tribal areas will be met with strict legal consequences,” he added.
Mr Polyakov told police that he was drawn to the island due to his passion for adventure and his desire to undertake extreme challenges, as well as by the allure of the mysterious Sentinelese.
