Berhampur: Acting tough against illegal transportation of sand, the Berhampur Police arrested 20 persons including the mastermind and seized 19 sand-loaded trucks.
The vehicles were seized on NH-16 near Golanthara Chati under Golanthara Police Station in Ganjam district.
While performing patrolling, the cops detected 19 trucks illegally transporting sands to Andhra Pradesh.
The accused have loaded the trucks at Chhatrapur-Bada Madhapur with Y forms of different Tahasils of the state, police said.
As these trucks were carrying the minor mineral-sand illegally and smuggling to the other states, those sand loaded 19 trucks were seized and 19 drivers were arrested, a statement issued by the Berhampur Police said.
Besides, the mastermind behind the smuggling K. Bhagaban Reddy alias Tofan of Bada Madhapur area in Chatrapur was also arrested. Reddy was driving a car for escorting the trucks.
The Investigation of the case is in progress, informed Berhampur SP Pinak Mishra.