Pune: In a significant crackdown, Zone II Police, acting on a tip-off from Swargate Police Station, apprehended two tempos engaged in the illegal transportation of gutkha in Phalenagar.

The operation resulted in the seizure of goods worth ₹18.5 lakh, including ₹8.5 lakh worth of Vimal gutkha and two tempos valued at ₹10 lakh.

The accused, identified as Saurabh alias Dhanraj Ramakrishna Nimbalkar (24) and Sangram Ramakrishna Nimbalkar (26), both residents of Shriram Society, Dhankawadi, have been arrested.

Constable Sanjay Bhapkar of Swargate Police Station received intelligence about gutkha being transported in the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station jurisdiction.

The information was relayed to Deputy Commissioner of Police Smarthana Patil, prompting a coordinated operation by a special police team. The team, including officers from Zone II, Swargate Police Station, and Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, patrolled the area and found two tempos parked near Rajak Provision Store in Lane No. 5, Phalenagar. Upon inspection, the tempos were found to contain gutkha valued at ₹8.5 lakh.

The operation was led by Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, with guidance from Joint Commissioner Ranjankumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Praveen Kumar Patil, and Deputy Commissioner Smarthana Patil. Key officers involved in the raid included Assistant Police Inspector Santosh Kole and police constables from Swargate and Bharati Vidyapeeth stations.

The police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation into the illegal transportation network.