The latest modus operandi used by the miscreants is that a few women block the road by lying down on it while men force open the lock and loot the trucks.

“There are over a hundred slum-dwellers in the area who have been looting the trucks in broad daylight.

It has become more rampant in the past one-and-a-half-years,” said Dibyendu Das, manager (logistics) Renuka Sugar.

The company representatives said they had lost nearly 2,500 metric tonnes of sugar in the past one-and-a-half-years with the cost of one metric tonne being around $470.

“We import raw sugar from Brazil. We have suffered heavy losses due to pilfering,” said Das. The company has approached the state government and the local administration, but to no avail.

East Midnapore DM C D Lama said: “We are trying to stop the pilfering but our resources at this point are limited with the police already stretched to their limit.”

Local sources said among the trucks that were looted, most were carrying sugar and iron ore.

Sources at TISCO said due to the pilfering, the company has now stopped sending goods through roads and switched over to rakes.

One of the reasons why sugar trucks are targeted more frequently is that it is also used to make local liquor, local sources said.

While the port area has CISF cover, adjoining areas are vulnerable.

Subhendu Adhikari, Trinamool MP from Tamluk, said a deputation has been submitted to the Haldia Development Authority on the issue.