An American YouTuber gifted Coca-Cola to an isolated tribe that is prohibited from being approached.

In 2018, an American missionary who illegally landed on the shore was shot and killed by island residents and then buried on the beach. In 2006, the Sentinelese killed two fishermen who accidentally came ashore.

Indian police arrested a 24-year-old American tourist on the allegation that he attempted to contact an isolated tribe on a closed island in the Indian Ocean. According to the police, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a YouTuber from Arizona, was arrested last week after he made a boat trip to the restricted area of North Sentinel Island to meet with people from the Sentinelese tribe on March 29. The police reported that Polyakov brought a box of diet cola and a coconut as an 'offering' to the tribe, blew a whistle to attract their attention, and recorded a video. Additionally, Polyakov collected sand samples before returning by boat to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was arrested after local fishermen saw him returning to Port Blair and informed the authorities. The police stated that Polyakov's actions posed a serious threat to the safety and welfare of the Sentinel people, whose contact with foreigners is strictly prohibited by law to protect their way of life. Polyakov is being held on charges of violating a law that protects isolated tribes and is set to appear in court on April 17. If found guilty, Polyakov could face up to five years in prison and a fine. The U.S. Department of State stated that they are aware of the development but did not provide further comment due to privacy concerns.

"Reckless and foolish" Visitors are prohibited from traveling within five kilometers of North Sentinel Island, which has been isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. In 2018, an American missionary who illegally landed on the shore was shot and killed by island residents and then buried on the beach. In 2006, the Sentinelese killed two fishermen who accidentally came ashore. Indian authorities limit contact to rare "gift-giving" encounters. Small teams of officials and scientists leave coconuts and bananas for the islanders. Indian ships also monitor the waters around the island to ensure that foreigners do not approach the Sentinelese, who have repeatedly expressed a clear desire to be left alone. The police stated that Polyakov conducted detailed research on sea conditions, tides, and access to the island before starting his journey. Senior police officer Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal said, "We determined that he meticulously planned for several days to visit the island and make contact with the Sentinel tribe." The initial investigation revealed that Polyakov had attempted to visit the islands twice last year, in October and January, even if it was with an inflatable boat. Survival International, a group that protects the rights of indigenous peoples, stated that Polyakov's attempt to contact the tribe was "reckless and foolish." The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement, "This person's actions not only put his own life at risk but also endangered the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe."