30 bundles of beedi leaves seized, two held in Thoothukudi district

Q Branch police seized 30 bundles of beedi leaves, weighing about 40 kg, at Kallurani village and arrested two persons in this connection in the early hours of Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the Q Branch police conducted a search at Kallurani, intercepted a cargo vehicle and found the beedi leaves and around one lakh cigarettes, intended to be smuggled to Sri Lanka.

The arrested were identified as A. Chithirai Vel, 25, and S. Sivaperumal, 28, from Ottapidaram area. The police are also searching for another suspected smuggler, Vinith from Pottal Kadu.

Further investigations are on.