On the basis of a tip-off received by Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh, excise officers manning the Aryankavu check-post seized 30,000 packets of pan masala from a lorry transporting vegetables from Tamil Nadu to Kollam.
Excise Circle Inspector T. Anil Kumar said the seized consignment would be worth Rs.15 lakh in the banned tobacco products black market.
Arrested
The man at the wheel, Madasamy, 47, of Alamkulam in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, was arrested and the lorry was taken into custody.
The driver of the lorry, on entering the check-post area, did not stop the vehicle when asked to do by the Excise officers.
The lorry was then chased and intercepted. Mr. Anil Kumar said that the lorry, with Madasamy and the pan masala, was handed over to the Thenmala police.
Each packet with an MRP tag of Rs.5 is sold at rates ranging from Rs.30 to Rs.50 in the black market.
Migrant labourers and students form part of the clientele.
Fourth seizure
Saturday’s was the fourth major seizure of banned tobacco products by personnel of the Aryankavu excise check-post in the last one month.
During the period, the Excise officers had seized 3 kg of ganja and arrested five persons in that connection.
Seized consignment will be worth Rs.15 lakh in the banned tobacco products black market.
