Gutkha, tobbaco worth Rs38 lakh seized in Yavatmal

YAVATMAL: The Yavatmal LCB sleuths, under the guidance of SP Dilip Patil Bhujbal and supervision of LCB chief Pradeep Pradeshi, seized banned drugs, scented tobacco and gutkha worth Rs37.8 lakh along with a tempo (MH 07/C-5684) at Savali Road Phata on Monday. The driver and cleaner are in police custody.
Acting on a tip off, the police teams laid a trap on Bori-Tuljapur Highway and intercepted the vehicle carrying the banned items being smuggled into the state from the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
Later, another team raided a godown and retail shop at Shastri Nagar in Arni tehsil and seized more materials.
The police registered offence against the driver Arif Rauf Bailim (29), cleaner Aatish Kodape (23), and traders Sheikh Maheboob Sadique (34) and Sheikh Salim Sk Gafoor (38), all residents of Shastri Nagar, and arrested them.
Arni PSO is conducting investigation. The drugs administration officer Gopal Mahure and his team assisted the police team led by APIs Vivek Deshmukh and Yogesh Randhe.