Thoothukudi Q branch police arrested two persons on Saturday at Pattanamarudur in the district for allegedly attempting to smuggle beedi leaves to Sri Lanka.
According to police, K. Umaya Raja, 31, from Vallanathapuram at Avaniyapuram in Madurai and Habibu Rahman, 38, from Panaikulam in Ramanathapuram district were drivers of a pick-up truck carrying bundles of beedi leaves, each weighing around 30 kg. They were intercepted while loading the goods onto a boat at Pattanamarudur seashore under Tharuvaikulam police jurisdiction.
Upon noticing the police, the boat moved into the sea and other individuals present fled the scene. However, police managed to arrest Umaya Raja and Habibu Rahman and seized 13 bundles of beedi leaves from the vehicle. They handed over the two men and the seized goods to the Customs department for further investigation.
Published – November 23, 2025 07:49 pm IST
