Pune, June 2 -- In a breakthrough against illegal arms smuggling, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate has arrested three criminals and seized a cache of country-made firearms and ammunition worth Rs 8.76 lakh, officials said on Monday.

The operation was carried out acting on a tip-off by a team of the Crime Branch.

According to Sandeep Doiphode, DCP Crime Branch Unit of Pimpri-Chinchwad Police, a focused crackdown was launched against illegal arms possession and trafficking within the city limits of Pimpri-Chinchwad, following which a team led by Senior Police Inspector Vijay Dhamal received credible intelligence that three suspects were moving suspiciously in a car without a number plate in the Talegaon Dabhade area and were po...