Coimbatore police seized 1.5 tons of banned tobacco products worth ₹13.7 lakhs in Sulur and nearby areas. Four individuals were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Coimbatore: In a major crackdown on illegal tobacco trade, the Coimbatore district police seized approximately 1.5 tons of banned tobacco products and arrested four individuals on Sunday, July 9. The operation was carried out under the direction of Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police Badrinarayanan, as part of ongoing efforts to eradicate the use of intoxicants in the district.
Acting on a tip-off, the Sulur police set up a vehicle check post near Kalangal junction on the Appanaickenpatti-Kalangal road. During the inspection, they intercepted a four-wheeler and discovered a significant quantity of banned tobacco products inside.
The police arrested two individuals from Salem district - Suresh Babu (34) and Bharathi (29) - who were transporting the contraband. The officers seized 200 kg of tobacco products along with the vehicle from their possession.
Further investigation led the police to a godown near Appanaickenpatti, where they found an additional 1,200 kg of banned tobacco products. Thennarasu (29), a resident of Vadavalli area in Coimbatore, was arrested at this location. The total value of the seized tobacco products from these two operations was estimated at ₹12.71 lakhs.
In a separate raid near Singanallur junction, based on another confidential tip, the police discovered 100 kg of banned tobacco products worth ₹99,000 in a godown. Balamurugan, who had stocked these items, was apprehended during this operation.
All four arrested individuals were produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody. The police have intensified their efforts to curb the illegal tobacco trade in the district, following the strict guidelines set by the Tamil Nadu government banning such products.
Acting on a tip-off, the Sulur police set up a vehicle check post near Kalangal junction on the Appanaickenpatti-Kalangal road. During the inspection, they intercepted a four-wheeler and discovered a significant quantity of banned tobacco products inside.
The police arrested two individuals from Salem district - Suresh Babu (34) and Bharathi (29) - who were transporting the contraband. The officers seized 200 kg of tobacco products along with the vehicle from their possession.
Further investigation led the police to a godown near Appanaickenpatti, where they found an additional 1,200 kg of banned tobacco products. Thennarasu (29), a resident of Vadavalli area in Coimbatore, was arrested at this location. The total value of the seized tobacco products from these two operations was estimated at ₹12.71 lakhs.
In a separate raid near Singanallur junction, based on another confidential tip, the police discovered 100 kg of banned tobacco products worth ₹99,000 in a godown. Balamurugan, who had stocked these items, was apprehended during this operation.
All four arrested individuals were produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody. The police have intensified their efforts to curb the illegal tobacco trade in the district, following the strict guidelines set by the Tamil Nadu government banning such products.