Bhubaneswar, Jan 16 (PTI) Officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were conducting searches at over 20 locations in Odisha's Ganjam district on Friday, in connection with the investigation into illegal mining of minor minerals, such as sand and black stone, officials said.

The searches were being carried out at properties of "mafias" and their business partners under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

An almirah full of cash, over Rs 2 crore in value, high-end vehicles and documents of immovable properties have been recovered so far, they said.

"The search operation is still underway. The exact figure of the cash seized and other details will be disclosed after completion of the operation," an official said.

"Gangsters and influential persons, by using their muscle power, forcibly conducted illegal mining of minor minerals by exploiting and terrorising people in various areas of Ganjam," he said. PTI BBM BBM SOM

Illegal mining probe in Ganjam yields cash, vehicles and property documents under PMLA searches targeting alleged mafias. Investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act involved coordinated searches at over twenty locations in Ganjam district linked to alleged mafias and business associates; searches recovered cash reportedly over Rs 2 crore, high-end vehicles, and immovable property documents while the operation continued pending full accounting. The probe targets suspected laundering of proceeds from illegal sand and black stone mining allegedly carried out through coercion and intimidation, with recovered evidence to be used to trace ownership and financial links.