Gutkha worth Rs 1cr seized in Chandur Rly

Amravati: In a major crackdown on illegal gutkha smuggling, the Amravati rural police seized banned tobacco products worth Rs1 crore in Chandur Railway area on Tuesday. The haul includes 10 tonnes of scented tobacco and gutkha, along with a goods truck and mobile phones. Police are now tracing the links of the interstate smuggling racket.According to information, Amravati rural SP Niketan Kadam received a tip-off about a truck transporting a large consignment of illegal gutkha. Chandur Railway police team set up a nakabandi in the Malkhed area. A suspicious truck was intercepted by the cops. During a search, police found 10 tonnes of illegal gutkha and scented tobacco. The seizure includes gutkha and tobacco worth approximately Rs75.75 lakh, a goods truck valued at Rs25 lakh, and two mobile phones worth Rs60,000, taking the total value of the seized items to Rs1 crore.Police arrested truck driver Sheikh Imran (36), a resident of Amravati. However, three to four other accused in the case are absconding.The operation was carried out under the guidance of SP Niketan Kadam, additional SP Datta Totewad, SDPO Anil Pawar, and PI Ajay Akare. The team included PSI Vina Pande, Rohit Kudale, Nitesh Azade, and other police personnel.