The Civil supplies CID and organized crime intelligence wing police seized 40 bags of smuggled ration rice hidden in a goods vehicle in Kotagiri and arrested the driver of the goods vehicle.
Nilgiris: The Nilgiris District Civil Supplies department received a tip-off that ration rice was being smuggled through the road leading from Kotagiri to Mettupalayam.
Following this, a team comprising of Inspector Menaka, Sub-Inspector Arjun Kumar, Constables Bookists Sumathi, Murugesan and Jeganathan conducted an intensive vehicle check at the Kunjappanai check post.
During the search, it was found that 40 bags of ration rice were packed, hidden and smuggled to the plains in a goods truck.
Christine Joseph (48), a resident of Lovedale in Ooty, had purchased ration rice from the Lower Kotagiri areas and transported it to the plains for sale.
Following this, the police arrested the driver and handed over the seized ration of rice to the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation godown in Ooty.
Police arrested Joseph and remanded him in custody.