KCOHI : NIA, early this morning, made three more arrests in connection with the sensational gold smuggling case. The trio nabbed today are believed to have active links with Rameez, the key accused with political clout across League.
One among the three taken into custody today, Jalal, has several pending against him involving gold smuggling through airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, and Bengaluru. However he remained absconding and evaded both customs and DRO officials up to now.
According to Customs, the latest contraband worth Rs 40 crore in gold, where Swapna, Sandeep and Sarith, acted as mid-agents to oversee clearance, was a deal transacted by Jalal.
Backdrop
On 5th of July, Customs at Thiruvananthapuram airported intercepted 30 Kg gold that came smuggled in diplomatic baggage marked to UAE consulate general based in the capital. Following permission from the centre, the dubious baggage was opened and contraband seized. The UAE emblem and seal placed on the box was later found to be fake. 5 have been arrested so far with NIA investigations still underway. The gold is believed to have been meant for financing terror networks in the country.
