Tuticorin : Three people were arrested and 462kg of banned tobacco products, cash worth ₹14 lakh and a two-wheeler were seized in a crackdown by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and Tuticorin district police on Tuesday night.
Police arrested all three accused and seized the contraband, ₹14 lakh in cash suspected to be proceeds from the illegal trade and a two-wheeler used in the operation. Police data showed that in 2025, as many as 439 cases related to smuggling and sale of banned tobacco products were registered in the district, leading to the arrest of 471 people. Authorities seized 3,000kg of tobacco products and 27 vehicles, while 109 shops were closed and sealed. This year, police have intensified enforcement, registering 459 cases so far and arresting 496 people. A total of 7,612kg of tobacco products and 28 vehicles have been seized, while 112 shops have been shut and sealed for violations.
The action was carried out as part of the govt’s drive to curb smuggling and sale of narcotic and tobacco products, according to police. During the operation, police intercepted three people who were found behaving suspiciously near a two-wheeler. Addressing reporters, superintendent of police (SP) R Shiva Prasad said that acting on a tip-off, a team conducted a patrol in New Colony area under the South police station limits on Tuesday night.