Inter-state rice smuggling racket busted in Coimbatore

Coimbatore, Jan 16 (ANI): In a major enforcement exercise, officials of the Revenue Department detained a truck ferrying 15 tonnes of rice meant for public distribution system (PDS) here on Saturday.

To ascertain the entire network of smuggling in the region, the authorities have confiscated the truck and detained the driver who said that he was asked to deliver the rice at Palghat in Kerala.

" We have seized a lorry that was proceeding in a suspicious manner. It was laden with rice. When we opened the sacks, we found that over 15 tonnes of ration rice but being smuggled to Kerala via Coimabtore, said District Civil Supplies Officer Srinivasan.

"This is the first time we have seized such a huge quantity of rice. Now onwards we will enforce strict vigil, particularly during nights," he added.

Investigations are underway to ascertain the whereabouts of the truck owner and those involved in smuggling. (ANI)