Busting a major illegal sand-mining operation, a team of officials seized 10 boats engaged in the flourishing business in the river basins around the town.
On a tip-off received by the police, a team of Coastal police, Port and Revenue officials impounded the boats from Nellikkunnu, Pallam, Thuruthi and Bangode localities on Saturday.
Acting swift on the inputs from Superintendent of Police A. Srinivas, the officials led by Kasaragod Dy.SP M.V. Sukumaran launched a joint raid on the flourishing activities of sand mafia groups and seized the boats which were operating without any legal documents under the cover of darkness.
The raiding party set afire to another boat, hidden in mangroves at Pallam locality, sources said.
