ED takes action in West Bengal coal smuggling case, raids nine locations including Kolkata and Durgapur

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the coal smuggling case in West Bengal, launched another major operation on Tuesday morning, February 3, 2026. Teams of the central investigating agency are conducting simultaneous searches at nine locations, including Kolkata, Durgapur, Asansol, and Burdwan.

According to sources, the primary objective of the raids is to trace the movement of "black money" generated from coal smuggling. The investigating agency suspects that a significant amount of this smuggled money was laundered through hawala channels . The ED is examining digital evidence and documents to trace this financial trail.

Houses of sand traders raided in Durgapur

In Kolkata and Durgapur, the ED has been conducting raids since around 6 a.m. Tuesday at the residence of a sand trader in Sepco Township. A suspicious house in Ambedkar Sarani in the city center area is also being searched. Officials also raided locations near NH-19 (National Highway) in Pandaveshwar and Kanksa.

The investigation revealed that these businessmen were involved in the extraction of sand from the Ajay and Damodar rivers . They are accused of carrying out large-scale illegal sand mining under the guise of a valid tender. The same invoices were used repeatedly. Sand was smuggled from West Bardhaman district using invoices from Birbhum district.

Through these illegal activities, the businessmen have amassed vast wealth in a short period of time. Currently, the ED's action is ongoing, and several important documents have reportedly been seized.

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