ED Raids Unveil Large-Scale Sand Smuggling Network in West Bengal

Kolkata, Oct 16 (PTI) - The Enforcement Directorate (ED) commenced simultaneous raids at multiple locations across West Bengal on Thursday, honing in on individuals and enterprises allegedly entwined in a sand smuggling network, a senior official disclosed.

ED units conducted searches in several areas, targeting offices in Kolkata’s Bentinck Street, as well as sites in Lalgarh and Gopiballavpur within Jhargram district. In a related operation, another team searched the residence of a businessman in Asansol, located in Paschim Bardhaman district, he reported.

"These operations are integral to our probe into the illegal sand mining activities. The ED teams began their operations in the early morning hours,” the official explained.

The ED personnel are meticulously scrutinizing business records, financial documents, and properties associated with the alleged racket, he added.