Sri Lankan Navy arrested six fishermen of Thoothukudi for smuggling beedi leaves in the early hours of Monday. The fishermen were allegedly carrying 2,379 kg of beedi leaves in 74 packages. They were intercepted 22 nautical miles off St. Anne's Church in Thalavila on the other side of the international maritime boundary. They were handed over to the Puthalam police and produced before the Kalpatti court. They were identified as A. Arockiyam, 35, the owner of the boat, J. Franklin, 27, V. Thommai, 50, S. Edward, 45, P. Arockiya Benson, 35 and M. Ramesh, 37, who hail from Keelavaippar in Thoothukudi district.
