A large consignment of ammonium nitrate was seized at the inter-state checkpost on Sunday while it was being smuggled to Kerala from Tamil Nadu.
Commonly used as fertilisers, the chemical compound also acts as an oxidising agent in explosives. According to the police, the driver Mohan Kumar, 31, was arrested, and the lorry was seized by Sales Tax and Excise Department officials. A total of 48 bags were seized. The cleaner is at large.
The driver said he was transferring it from Salem to a consignee in Pathanamthitta. He confessed that Rs 4,000 was paid as commission for transportation and that he delivered a similar consignment at Pathanamthitta a few days ago.