Manama: Faisal Fareed, the third accused in smuggling of gold using diplomatic baggage, has been arrested in Dubai, according to reports.
He is being interrogated by the Dubai police, sources said. He will be extradited to India after the UAE investigation. The UAE has informed India of the arrest, they added. Sources in Air Customs confirmed that Faisal Fareed is in Dubai Police custody now.
Faisal, who has business in the UAE, is residing with his family at Al Rashidiya in Dubai, and was taken in custody from his residence on Friday.
Faisal, 36, a native of Kaipamangalam, Thrissur, is expected to be handed over to India at the earliest. According to investigation agencies, it was Faisal who sent a consignment to UAE consulate Charge d' Affairs Rashed Khamis Alshemelli in which 30 kgs of gold were found. The NIA has charged Fareed with various offences including forgery of documents, terror funding and smuggling.
A NIA court on Tuesday issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him. The Union Home Ministry cancelled his passport and has issued a lookout notice to intercept him. In addition, the NIA sought the help of Interpol, an international police organization, to issue a Blue Corner Notice to locate him.
The Indian mission in the UAE had passed on all information about Faisal to the Dubai Police through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, sources said.
The UAE has launched an investigation on July 7 into smuggling gold from Dubai and the involvement of diplomats in it. According to sources, an initial probe by the UAE Embassy in India has revealed that some documents were forged including the emblem of the UAE mission in Thiruvananthapuram to send gold inside baggage addressed to a diplomat.
Earlier, Faisal denied the allegations against him in the media and said that he did not know other persons who were arrested for smuggling the gold. Customs had raided his house in Kaipamangalam a few days ago.
Customs arrested 13 persons and NIA arrested two persons so far. The NIA also registered a separate case claiming the involvement of terrorist elements behind the smuggling. Rashed Khamis Alshemelli has returned to the UAE.
