600 tonnes sand in eight lorries seized, 15 arrested

Over 600 tonnes of sand, being smuggled in eight lorries to Kerala, were seized at Kottur near Pollachi and 15 persons arrested in this connection, a top police official said today.
   
Based on specific information and government directives to prevent sand smuggling, rural police kept a vigil on bordering area and stopped eight lorries on Anamalai-Kerala Route, early this morning.

The drivers who were questioned revealed they were taking it to Kerala, where there was high demand for sand, Coimbatore Range DIG, Balanagadevi told reporters here.
   
The arrested included owners of four lorries, she said, adding that total value of the seizure, including the vehicles was estimated at Rs36 lakh.