Bhubaneswar, June 7 -- A late-night joint raid by the Puri district Mines Department and police led to the seizure of five Hyva trucks and two JCB machines allegedly involved in illegal sand extraction from the Bhargavi River in Pipili on Saturday.

The operation was carried out after authorities received information about alleged illegal sand mining.

According to reports, officials of the Puri district Mines Department, along with personnel from Puri and Pipili police, conducted the raid on an alleged illegal sand mining site. Authorities suspect that illegal extraction of sand was being carried out, resulting in losses to the state exchequer worth crores of rupees.

The operation was reportedly launched at around 11.30 pm late on Satur...