Coimbatore: Police arrested two youths from a northern state on Thursday night for allegedly transporting banned gutka products from Bengaluru. Around 850 kg of gutka packets were seized.
Police said that, during routine patrolling on Big Bazar Street on Thursday night, they checked two load autos carrying 28 bundles. After opening the bundles, police found packets of banned gutka (tobacco) packets and ‘paan masala’ products.
The two were identified as Rupesh, 28, and Bappu, 21, from Rajasthan. They had allegedly brought the gutka products from Bengaluru to supply to two local dealers on Raja Street. On receiving the information, assistant commissioner Venkatesh rushed to the spot and started investigation. Based on this arrest, police rushed to arrest the two wholesale dealers in Coimbatore, who are at large. However, they escaped before police could reach them. The gutka products could be worth over 'one crore, a police official said.
Police is still unable to trace Amit Jain, owner of the suspected gutka manufacturing unit at Sulur-Kannampalayam.
