PUNALUR: A Kerala native has been arrested for illegally ferrying ration grans from Tamil Nadu to Kerala. The Trivandrum native Santhosh Kumar was caught by Pulliyara police after a joint operation with Tirunelveli civil supplies officers. A total of 22 tons of grain has been seized. The ration grain in 382 sacks was transported from Viruthanagar to Trivandrum in a lorry.

According to police, these gangs conduct the fraud by purchasing a 2 Rs ration grain from Tamil Nadu and selling the same in Kerala for a hefty sum. After the Covid outbreak, the security procedures in checkposts took a lukewarm approach helping these gangs thrive in illegal business. According to sources, many such gangs are still building a fortune illegally for the past two years.