CHENNAI: Two weeks after an armed gang hijacked a container truck carrying pharmaceutical products to Chennai Port near Tiruvottiyur, police arrested the seven-member gang behind the theft. Police said the hijacking was planned by a Chennai-based man, who with his son and other associates took away the truck.
On May 26, the truck coming from a private pharma firm in Ranipet, Vellore district carrying several lakh worth drugs meant for export had halted at a weigh bridge near Ondikuppam, Tiruvottiyur.
The gang had come by an SUV (TN 02 T 3997) and had attacked the truck driver Vinoth (27). They let him off near Ambattur toll gate and drove off with the truck. The driver informed his owner, R Haribabu (44) of Mylapore and special police teams were formed to trace the truck.
Police said that based on information provided by the truck driver, they focussed on the SUV the gang came by. The car belonged to S Suresh (31) of Kolathur. The car and the owner were picked up on June 7.
Suresh’s information led police to the place where the container truck was hidden. The truck and the cargo were recovered from Keezhanur village in Thiruvallur district.
Meanwhile, police arrested a father-son duo, D Babu (45) and B Joseph (22) from Kolathur who planned the heist, police said.
Babu was said to be a serial offender and was involved in similar thefts before. Babu had planned to sell the truck by changing the number plates and documents some months later, police said. On Sunday, police arrested other accomplices.