11 tonnes of banned tobacco products worth ₹3 crore seized in Koratty; two arrested
Police recover 3.76 lakh packets concealed beneath onion sacks in a lorry; one of the biggest recent hauls in central Keralam
In a significant anti-smuggling operation, the Thrissur Rural police in Kerala have seized 11 tonnes of banned tobacco products, valued at around ₹3 crore, from a lorry during a routine vehicle inspection on the national highway at Koratty. The haul, considered one of the biggest recent seizures in central Keralam, consisted of 3,76,500 packets concealed beneath onion sacks.
Two men, Telson Babu, 36, and Saib, 33, were arrested in connection with the operation, which was carried out by the Thrissur Rural District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) and the Koratty police following a tip-off. The lorry, carrying the contraband, was intercepted at Koratty and taken into custody. The police are now conducting a detailed investigation to trace the source of the products, identify other members of the alleged smuggling network, and uncover the distribution channels used to supply the contraband in Keralam.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
