Six persons were arrested in two separate cases in Ranipet and Tirupattur districts for illegal sand mining on Wednesday.

The police said the arrested person was identified as A. Prabhu, 45, a resident of Tiruvannamalai. Initial inquiry revealed that special teams were formed in Ranipet to prevent illegal sand mining, smuggling of ganja and other banned substances.

The police said a team was on routine patrol on Chittoor - Cuddalore Highway at Perumathangal village near Arcot town when they intercepted a tipper lorry. The team checked the lorry and found loads of sand in it. Before the lorry driver managed to escape, a police team nabbed him. Police also seized the vehicle with sand. A case was registered.

In a separate incident, five persons were arrested by Oomerabad police near Ambur town in Tirupattur. A police team was patrolling along the river when they saw the gang uploading sand from the riverbed in five bull carts. The police team apprehended the gang. They are residents near Ambur town. Those arrested were lodged at sub-jail in Tirupattur town. A probe is under way.