Anode slime that was stolen from Sterlite Industries in March, was recovered and five persons were arrested, here on Saturday. As much as 12.5 tonnes of the substance worth Rs 47 crore was recovered.
Anode slime is a byproduct collected from the bottom of the electrolytic cells during the refining of copper. This is exported from Thoothukudi Port to Fujairah Gold, one of the Sterlite Group companies in Dubai, where gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are extracted from the slime.
On March 19, anode slime worth Rs 47 crore was packed and sealed in 34 drums, and sent by a container to the Thoothukudi Port. On March 20, it was taken to Colombo Port by a feeder vessel, MV St John Glory. It was then shipped to Jebel Ali Port, in Dubai, by MV Evergreen. On April 10, when the container was opened, officials found that the packing of the drums was different from the original packing.
When the drums were opened, it was found that the anode slime was stolen and replaced with different material. Officials of Sterlite then launched a complaint with SP, Thoothukudi.
A special team was formed by SP Durai, comprising DSP Kandasamy, SIPCOT inspector Krishnan, SIs, Jeyaseelan and Siva Shanmugam, and constable Ravi, and investigations started on June 5.
SP, Durai, said the anode slime and the material used to replace it had the same weight, and hence went unnoticed by officials at all check points. Also, the seals were intact when the container was opened in Dubai. However, when police went to review the CCTV cameras at the Sterlite, it was revealed that the cameras had not been working when the drums were loaded into the container, triggering suspicion.
Cops then grilled all the staff and the truck drivers at the company. During the investigation, Karthik, who worked in the logistics department, gave contradicting statements about why the CCTV cameras were not working when the consignment was being loaded.
Police took him in for further inquiry, and he then spilled the beans and admitted to being involved in the theft. He said he had offered the truck drivers, Isaac and Muthukumar, money to help him steal the consignment of anode slime.
According to the confession, on the day of the incident, Isaac took the truck to the company after changing the latches of the back door of the container. After the consignment was loaded, he took the load to a remote godown in Adi Parasakthi Nagar, where the material in the drums was replaced.
In the meantime, Isaac obtained the photo pass at the port within the stipulated time. Muthukumar drove the truck to the port, where Isaac took possession it and took it into the port.
Subsequently, two other associates, Murali, a container lorry supervisor, and Venkatesh, a friend of Karthik, were also arrested.
However, Mohideen Kadar, the mastermind behind the operation, is still absconding. The SP said Kadar had planned the theft so well that only one member had seen him and the others had only spoken with him.