Constable arrested on charge of facilitating gold smuggling

Kochi: Busting an international racket involved in gold smuggling, Customs officials Sunday arrested a Kerala police constable, who worked on deputation as immigration official at Kochi International Airport here, for allegedly facilitating the illegal trade.

Customs sources said 28-year-old Febin K Basheer, while working as Immigration Assistant under Intelligence Bureau (IB) from 2011 to April 2015, allegedly helped Naushad -- the kingpin of the racket which is suspected to have smuggled 1500 kgs of gold from Dubai through the airport in 16 months.

Febin, who had returned to Kerala police's A R Camp after completing his service, was summoned to Customs office today before being arrested, they said.

Two of his relatives have also been taken into custody by the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch of Customs.

The customs team headed by K N Raghavan and Deputy Commissioner Palaniyandi, which busted the racket, believes that Febin allegedly got Rs eight crore during the period for facilitating smuggling at the airport.

The sleuths have come to know that the Febin, who belongs to Moovattupuzha in the district, submitted his resignation from the Kerala police after his deputation job at the airport but it has not been accepted so far.

A total of 32 persons including some of the ground handling staff at the airport have been arrested ever since the Customs nabbed Noushad, who is the second accused in the case.

Noushad, who is also a Moovattupuzha native, was arrested on June 8 and is presently lodged in the jail here. Customs officials have indicated more arrests in the case in the coming few days.

A detailed investigation has been launched to find out the details of the people who had purchased the smuggled gold.