ED conducts raids in several areas of West Bengal over sand smuggling racket

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday (October 16, 2025) started simultaneous raids at various places in West Bengal, targeting individuals and businesses found to be allegedly involved in a sand smuggling racket, a senior official said.

ED teams raided offices in Kolkata’s Bentinck Street area, Lalgarh and Gopiballavpur in Jhargram district, while another search operation was conducted at the residence of a businessman in Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district, he said.

"These raids are part of our investigation into illegal sand mining. The ED operations started from early morning,” the official said.

The ED sleuths are combing through business records, financial documents, and properties linked to the racket, he added.