The seized bundles of beedi leaves in Thoothukudi on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGMENT
The Q Branch police seized ₹60 lakh-worth beedi leaves even as they were about to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by boat in the early hours of Tuesday.
Following tip-off about the smuggling of beedi leaves from Veerapandianpattinam seashore to Sri Lanka on Monday night, the Q Branch Police led by Inspector Vijaya Anita intensified patrol along the coast up to Tiruchendur.
When the police team spotted a mini cargo vehicle going towards the Veerapandianpattinam beach around 2.40 a.m., the police intercepted the vehicle after a hot chase. While the driver and the cleaner of the vehicle escaped after abandoning the vehicle, the police team seized it with 40 bags of beedi leaves, each weighing 35 kg.
The Q Branch police handed over the vehicle with the beedi leaves to the Department of Customs.
Published - October 13, 2026 07:59 pm IST