Overview

• The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at 15 locations across Meghalaya and Assam, uncovering rampant illegal rat-hole coal mining operations despite a decade-long ban.
• Investigations revealed a syndicate charging ₹1.27–1.5 lakh per truck to facilitate cross-border transport of illegally mined coal under forged documentation.
• Approximately 1,200 tonnes of coal are being illegally extracted daily from around 20 mines in South Garo Hills, with workers operating in harsh and unsafe conditions.
• The ED seized ₹1.58 crore in cash, laptops, mobile phones, and vehicles suspected to be purchased with proceeds from the illegal trade.
• Illicit coal is laundered through fake invoices and cash transactions, supplying industries such as cement manufacturing, brick kilns, and unregulated coke plants.