Kochi: Five accused persons in the Karippur airport gold smuggling case – two women and three men – have been charged under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act.
The decision to bring the five persons -- first accused Shahbas, second and third accused Nabeel and Layis, and fourth and fifth accused Hiromasa V Sebastian and Rahila Cheerayi respectively – under the non-bailable charge was taken on Wednesday by the COFEPOSA advisory board following a recommendation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
The DRI had informed the board that the accused had been regular gold smugglers.
Earlier, the KOFEPOSA advisory board had directed to book Nedumbassery gold smuggling case accused T.K. Faiz and his three aides– two women and a man – under the same Act.
The Act would lead to the detention of the accused without bail for one year.