Police seized ₹20 lakh-worth of beedi leaves weighing about 2,400 kg at two places near Thoothukudi on Tuesday night as they were about to be smuggled in boats to Sri Lanka.
A mini cargo vehicle was intercepted during a vehicle check conducted at Pudur Pandiapuram Bridge on Madurai Road.. But the driver did not stop and drove towards East Coast Road in a bid to escape. It was caught after a hot chase, police said.
While the driver and the cleaner of the vehicle escaped, police seized the vehicle with 40 bags of beedi leaves, weighing about 1,200 Kg.
In another incident, Q Branch Police intercepted a mini cargo vehicle carrying 1,200 kg beedi leaves at Pullaaveli near Pazhayakaayal. However, the driver escaped. The vehicles with the beedi leaves were handed over to the Department of Customs for further investigation.
