Bengal sand smuggling case: Fake QR-codes, multiple trucks with same numbers, ED unearths fraud
ED Uncovers Clever Tricks in Massive Sand Smuggling Racket in West Bengal
In a big crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several spots across West Bengal on Monday to bust a huge sand smuggling operation worth crores of rupees. For the first time, ED officials are probing sand smuggling in the state, and they’ve uncovered some smart but shady ways the criminals pulled it off.
Sources close to the investigation reveal that the sand smuggling racket in West Bengal used a two-step trick to dodge the rules. Let’s break it down simply.
First, under West Bengal’s sand mining laws, companies allowed to dig sand from rivers must register their trucks’ numbers and owners’ details with local authorities. These trucks alone can transport the sand legally. But here’s the catch: crooks used the same registration numbers on multiple trucks from different owners. This let them haul way more sand than permitted, slipping past checks at river banks.
The second layer involved faking QR codes. District authorities assign these unique QR codes to authorized trucks for tracking sand transport from rivers to mining sites. Criminals used tech tricks to forge these codes and slap them on unauthorized vehicles. This made illegal trucks look legit, helping the sand smuggling racket run smoothly for a long time.
ED investigators have already grabbed solid proof, like documents showing duplicate registrations and fake QR codes. An official told us, "This kind of organized sand smuggling in West Bengal couldn’t happen without inside help from higher-up government officials." The team is now hunting down these corrupt officers who secretly supported the illegal sand mining activities.
But it gets bigger. The official added that such a massive, long-running scam likely had political backing from influential figures in the state. ED is digging deeper to expose everyone involved in this multi-crore fraud.
This raid marks ED’s entry into tackling sand smuggling rackets in West Bengal, and it could lead to more arrests soon. Stay tuned as the probe uncovers more details on this illegal operation.
