The Civil Supplies Criminal Investigation Department registered 2,524 cases in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore zone between January 1 and October 10, 2026, in a crackdown on the illegal hoarding, smuggling and diversion of subsidised essential commodities, including domestic LPG cylinders and agricultural fertilisers.
The enforcement action covered the diversion of Public Distribution System commodities, domestic cooking gas cylinders and subsidised fertilisers intended for public distribution and farmers. The Coimbatore zone comprises nine units covering the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pollachi, Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.
To prevent domestic LPG cylinders from being diverted for unauthorised commercial use, officials registered 280 cases and seized 4,054 cylinders during the period. An official said preventive detention proceedings had been initiated against S Karthikeyan of Coimbatore and Sankar of Salem district for alleged black marketing and illegal hoarding of LPG cylinders.
According to the department, these were the first preventive detention actions specifically linked to illegal LPG cylinder hoarding. The action comes as enforcement agencies continue to monitor the movement of subsidised commodities that are intended to reach households and farmers through regulated supply channels.
Officials also intensified surveillance along Tamil Nadu’s borders to prevent subsidised agricultural fertilisers from being transported illegally into Kerala for commercial purposes. Eleven cases related to fertiliser smuggling were registered, and 1,014.435 metric tonnes of subsidised fertilisers were seized.
In a separate operation in Tirupur district, officials seized 34,200 kg of fertilisers subsidised by the central government. Following that seizure, preventive detention orders were issued on October 10 against three Kerala residents identified as Sudheesh, Hussain and Shanoob Khan.
The seizures highlight the enforcement challenge faced by the state in ensuring that commodities supplied through subsidy systems remain within their intended distribution channels. Domestic LPG cylinders are meant for household use, while subsidised fertilisers are supplied to support agricultural production. Their diversion can disrupt access for eligible consumers and farmers, although the department did not provide district-wise details of the cases or quantify any resulting supply shortfall.
The Civil Supplies CID said enforcement would be intensified further across the zone. The department warned that strict legal action, including preventive detention wherever applicable, would be taken against people involved in the illegal diversion, hoarding and smuggling of essential and subsidised commodities.
