The Mines Department seized five lorries laden with sand at Bhutharayanallur near Thirukkattupalli in the district recently.
According to official sources, the AD (Mines) office at Thanjavur received information that sand was being smuggled in Thirukkattupalli area. Subsequently, a team of department officials paid a surprise visit to the area and intercepted five lorries at Bhutharayanallur last week.
An inspection of the vehicles revealed that they were laden with sand, but there was no documents to affirm that the sand was being transported legally.
The vehicles were impounded and handed over to Thirukattupalli police along with the drivers of the vehicles, Rajkumar of Thuvakudimalai, Thiruverumbur, Iyappan of Thalaignairu, Sarathkumar of Palliaghraharam, Prakash of Ammanpettai and Dakshinamoorthy of Kattumannarkovil, the sources said.
