THOOTHUKUDI: The Q Branch police seized 79 bundles of beedi leaves, allegedly meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by boat, from Senthoor Nagar beach near Alanthalai in the Tiruchendur police limits of Thoothukudi district in the early hours of Wednesday.

The police arrested Surya (26) of Kurumbur in connection with the case. "We are searching for the other accused involved in the alleged smuggling operation," a police source said.

Acting on a tip-off received by Q Branch Inspector Vijay Anitha, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Ramachandran, along with Special Sub-Inspectors Geethan and Ramar and other police personnel, conducted surveillance in the area.

The team intercepted an Eicher goods vehicle on the road leading to Senthoor Nagar beach at around 4 am on July 22. They found 79 bundles of beedi leaves, each weighing about 35 kg. The international market value of the seized beedi leaves is estimated at around Rs 1 crore, police said.