Home Guard arrested on charge of bid to smuggle three tonnes of beedi leaves to Sri Lanka

The Coastal Security Police have arrested a Home Guard on charge of reportedly trying to smuggling about three tonnes of beedi leaves to Sri Lanka.

The police said the Coastal Security Police, during their patrol near Koodankulam, stopped a mini lorry around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. When the lorry driver tried to escape, the police detained him and found three tonnes of beedi leaf bundles stuffed in the vehicle.

During investigation, the police identified him as Esakkiappan, 25, of Achiyoor near Thalapathisamudram in the district, who was serving as Home Guards jawan. He told the police that he was taking the beedi leaves from Ponnakudi near Palayamkottai to Kooththenkuzhi from where it was to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by boat by Tyson, a murder accused from Kooththenkuzhi.

After arresting Esakkiappan, the police are on the lookout for Tyson.