11 tonnes of banned tobacco products worth ₹3 crore seized in Koratty; two arrested

The Thrissur Rural police have seized nearly 11 tonnes of banned tobacco products, estimated to be worth around ₹3 crore in the retail market, from a lorry during a vehicle inspection on the national highway at Koratty as part of Operation Toofan. Two men were arrested in connection with the seizure.

The police recovered 3,76,500 packets of banned tobacco products concealed beneath a consignment of onions in the lorry. The products were packed in 502 sacks, each containing 750 packets. The lorry used for transporting the contraband was also taken into custody.

The seizure is considered one of the biggest recent hauls of banned tobacco products in central Keralam. The consignment was allegedly being transported from Bengaluru to Kalady in Ernakulam district for distribution in central Keralam.

The arrests followed a joint operation by the Thrissur Rural District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) and the Koratty police, acting on a tip-off. The inspection was conducted under the direction of Thrissur Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Narayanan T. and Thrissur Rural District Police Chief Mohammed Nadeem.

The police had intensified surveillance on national highways and border roads as part of Operation Toofan. Acting on the intelligence received, a team led by Chalakudy Deputy Superintendent of Police J. Kuriachos and Narcotics Cell Deputy Superintendent of Police S. Pradeep intercepted the lorry, which was proceeding towards Ernakulam, at Koratty.

The arrested men have been identified as Telson Babu, 36, of Keezhpally, and Saib, 33, of Aralam, both in Kannur district.

According to the police, the duo had allegedly loaded the banned tobacco products onto the lorry in Bengaluru and were transporting them to Kalady when they were intercepted.

Detailed probe

The police have launched a detailed investigation to trace the source of the products, identify other members of the alleged smuggling network and establish the storage and distribution channels used to supply the contraband in Keralam.

Preliminary information suggests that banned tobacco products manufactured in northern India are purchased at relatively low prices and transported to Keralam for resale at substantially higher rates. Packets bought for around ₹10 are reportedly sold for ₹100 or more in the State, yielding substantial profits for those involved in the trade.