PANJIM: Ports Administration officials on Tuesday confiscated two canoes laden with sand at Camurlim as part of a drive against illegal sand extraction across the State. The two canoes were handed over to Directorate of Mines & Geology Department by the raiding team.
“It was a routine check on illegal sand extraction. Our officials found the two canoes suspicious and interrogated the workers and they could not give satisfactory replies. The men did not have the licence to prove the extraction was legal, after which our officials seized the canoes and informed the two departments,” Captain of Ports James Braganza told Herald.
The Mines Department is now tasked with evaluating the total quantity of sand extracted and the loss to the government.
