In a late-night operation on Saturday, officials conducted raids at two sand ghats near the Chhattisgarh border under Kodinga Tehsil in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district, seizing vehicles allegedly involved in illegal sand transportation.

During the operation, authorities confiscated 12 tippers, six tractors, and one JCB machine suspected of being engaged in unauthorized sand lifting and smuggling activities. The raids were carried out at the Bhainsabeda and Balegaon-Duragaon sand ghats in Kosagumuda block under the supervision of District Collector Maheswar Swain.

Officials revealed that the seized vehicles had irregularities in their transit passes, prompting immediate confiscation. “We conducted raids at multiple sand ghats today, including the Bhainsabeda and Balegaon ghats. During the operation, we found around 12 tippers leaving the area after extracting sand. The vehicles have been seized and handed over to Kodinga Police. A JCB machine was also seized during the raid,” said Maheswar Swain, Nabarangpur District Collector.

The District Collector further instructed officials to intensify action against illegal sand extraction and unauthorized transportation, particularly in the inter-state border areas.

In addition, an investigation has been ordered into the quantity of sand extracted over the past four years from the two ghats, examining the scale of alleged illegal sand smuggling during this period.

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The raid was conducted in the presence of Kodinga Tahasildar, Kosagumuda BDO, Sub-Collector, and Additional District Collector, alongside the District Collector.