Consignment of beedi leaves seized

By Pathma Kumari  

A consignment of 2,464 kilos of beedi leaves smuggled from India by sea was seized in transit and a suspect was arrested by Norochcholai police during a raid in Illanthadiya in the early hours of last morning.   

Police said the market value of the stock of contraband could have been more than Rs. 17 million.   

The lorry and a van transporting it were seized during the raid. The driver of the van was arrested but the driver of the lorry fled from the scene and evaded arrest.   

The suspect and the stock of beedi leaves were to be handed over to Katunayake Customs Division.   

A police team under OIC Norochcholai police SI M.M.P. Jeewan Kumara had carried out the raid.