MADURAI: Five persons, who belong to Thoothukudi, were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday evening on charges of smuggling beedi leaves. After arresting them, two tonnes of beedi leaves were seized from a boat, sources said.

Those arrested have been identified as V Ashwin (18) of Inigo Nagar, Abiston (18) of the same locality, M Godway (18) of Lourdhammalpuram, M Dijo (24) of Tsunami Colony, Siluvaipatti and P Maria Anthony (21) of Inigo Nagar. The detainees were in custody of the Navy camp in Kalapatti, Sri Lanka.