The Madurai district police have seized 750 kg of gutka that was being smuggled from Salem at Usilampatti and arrested five persons. The police also seized two cars and a motorbike that were used for the crime.
The police identified the accused as J. Praksh, 25, of Usilampatti; S. Sankar, 34, M. Moorthy, 24, and M. Ambarish of Krishnagiri and S. Vignesh, 31, of Krishnagiri. Acting on a tip-off, a team of police intercepted the cars at Muthupandipatti on Madurai-Theni highway. The police team found 67 bags of banned tobacco products that were being smuggled in an SUV.
They also seized another car and a bike that had escorted the SUV. The accused have been booked under the provisions of Cigarette and other Tobacco Product Act-2003.
