'Tendu leaves' seized while being smuggled from India to Sri Lanka

Ramanathapuram: The Ramanathapuram Customs Division and Rameswaram Customs Preventive Unit (CPU), in two operations, seized two tonnes of ‘tendu leaves’, which are used to wrap Indian cigars or beedis, when the goods were being transported to the Ramanathapuram shores in Tamil Nadu to be smuggled to Sri Lanka.

With the instructions from assistant commissioner V Rajkumar Moses, the customs officials seized about 980 kg of the leaves in Ramanathapuram on Friday and more than a tonne of leaves at Uchipulli on Saturday. In this operation, the officials seized a van, which was used to transport the goods and two persons, including the driver, who was allegedly involved in the case.

Similarly, in the Uchipuli operation, the officials seized the illegal goods and a van. The customs officials arrested the van driver, and the investigation is underway.