Home / Crime and Justice / Gutka Smugglers Use Omni Buses for Transport
Gutka Smugglers Use Omni Buses for Transport
1 Jul
Summary
- Smugglers now use omni buses to transport gutka, hiding it in luggage compartments.
- Police seized 250 kg of banned tobacco products from an omni bus.
- Authorities are using mobile phone tracking to intercept smugglers.
Smugglers transporting gutka from Karnataka to southern Tamil Nadu have adapted their methods, now utilizing private omni buses instead of cars to bypass heightened police surveillance. These banned tobacco products are concealed within the buses' luggage compartments, often alongside passenger baggage.
This shift in modus operandi was highlighted recently when Kovilpatti West police intercepted an omni bus near the Kovilpatti New Bus Stand. They seized 250 kg of gutka and arrested the driver, who was allegedly paid to transport the illegal consignment. The bus was en route from Bengaluru to Tirunelveli.
Police investigations suggest a middleman from Chennai is involved in coordinating these operations. By tracking mobile phone signals, law enforcement successfully intercepted the bus and apprehended the driver. The driver reportedly transported the goods without the bus operator's knowledge.
This incident follows a larger seizure of 521 kg of gutka in June, which originated from Bengaluru and was found in a car with a Rajasthan registration. Previously, smugglers used trains, but increased inspections prompted a move to road transport via buses.
