Kolkata, Sep 9 || After marathon raids and search operations at multiple locations in West Bengal in connection with a multi-crore sand-smuggling racket, the investigating officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have identified a unique modus operandi in running the illegal business.
The raids were carried out throughout Monday.
Sources aware of the development explained that the modus operandi in the irregularity had two layers.
“As per the rules of sand mining in the state, the mining entities authorised to extract sand from the different rivers in the state are required to provide the registration numbers of their trucks to be used for carrying the extracted sand from the river to the concerned administrative authorities. The mining entities are also supposed to provide the administration details of the owners of the trucks that would be used for the purpose,” said an official.
However, he added, in reality, multiple trucks owned by different owners used the same registration numbers to collect sand from the river banks. “This was the first step in the modus operandi of the irregularity.