Revenue Department officials in Coimbatore on Sunday seized 7.50 tonne rice that was about to be smuggled to Kerala.
According to Flying Squad Tahsildar M. Murugan, following a tip-off on Saturday night that a few persons were planning to smuggle rice meant for public distribution system by taking it across the inter-state border in a lorry that was parked on the Ukkadam By-pass Road, a team led by District Revenue Officer K. Karpakam, Mr. Murugan and Revenue Inspector Jayakumar rushed to the spot and seized the rice that was in the lorry on the road.
This was around 3.30 a.m. Sunday.
Mr. Murugan said that the lorry was parked alongside the road and the driver was absent.
Perhaps those behind the smuggling were trying to assess the correct route to take to the inter-State border. He said that rice was stored in 150 bags.
On Monday, the department officials would lodge a formal complaint with the police, who would begin investigations.
The department would also launch an investigation to ascertain how the rice meant for public distribution landed on the hands of the smugglers.
Staff Reporter adds from Tirupur: The special flying squad constituted by the office of District Supply Officer seized around 100 kg smuggled PDS rice during checks conducted over two days ended on Sunday.
Official sources said the rice was found in bags lying at Tirupur city and Uthukuli areas. The accused managed to give a slip to the Civil Supplies officials.
