Abdul Kader Sheikh, the driver of the vehicle, which was intercepted by the police at Mankar Bridge in the Budbud police station area, tried to escape, but was caught after a chase, Burdwan Superintendent of Police SMH Meerza said.
Sheikh, 47, who hailed from Hizalgara village under Jamuria PS, admitted during preliminary interrogation that he was taking the explosives from Odisha's Baleswar to Panchla in Birbhum district, police said.
He said police would ascertain if the gelatin sticks had anything to do with the BJP-TMC clash at Birbum's Makra which had left three people dead.