The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday launched simultaneous raids at three locations in West Bengal as part of a sweeping crackdown on sand-smuggling rackets that allegedly run into hundreds of crores.
Teams of ED officials, backed by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), carried out searches in Behala on Kolkata&rsquo;s southern outskirts, Gopiballavpur in Jhargram district, and Kalyani in Nadia district. This marks the first time the central agency has moved directly against the state&rsquo;s sand-smuggling networks.
In Jhargram, the residence of Sheikh Zahirul Ali, a former contractual village policeman who later entered the sand trade, was searched. His property is located close to the Subarnarekha River, a hub for illegal sand extraction. Locals allege Ali left his government role to expand his private sand business, which flourished on inflated prices and forged permits.
In Behala, the ED raided the office of G.D. Mining, a firm linked to large-scale sand trading. Sources said its Salt Lake Sector-V office could also be searched in the coming days. The details of the operation in Kalyani remain undisclosed at this stage.
According to investigators, sand-smuggling in Bengal thrives on forged mining permits and rampant illegal extraction, with sand often sold at double the government-approved rates. The ED believes the racket not only bleeds state revenues but also fuels parallel economies tied to corruption and organized crime.

ED raids 3 Bengal sites in probe into sand mafia and illegal mining worth crores

ED Cracks Down on Sand Mafia in Bengal

ED raids 3 Bengal sites in probe into sand mafia and illegal mining worth crores

September 8, 2025 | 18:01 IST