A 38-year-old driver was arrested by Natrampalli police near Jolarpet town on Tuesday for illegal transportation of 15 tonnes of blue metal without valid permit documents.

The police said the arrested person was identified as R. Kumar, a resident of Tirupattur. Initial inquiry revealed that special teams were formed in the district to prevent illegal sand mining, smuggling of ganja and other banned substances.

The police said a police team was on routine patrol near the railway station in Pachur village at Jolarpet town when they intercepted a lorry carrying loads of blue metal.

The police said Chittoor was a major site for stone quarries and crusher units for industrial purposes. The lorry was heading to Tirupattur to deliver the consignment at a private industrial unit when the police team intercepted it.

  The police said that the driver had only photocopies of bill receipts of the consignments. During such large transportation of blue metal, original receipts should be carried for verification. The lorry driver was also unable to produce a valid permit issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) for the vehicle. A case was registered against the driver and the lorry was seized. A probe is under way.