Gold smuggling: Customs casts its net wide in the state

Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram:  Customs is getting about spreading net for those involved in the gold smuggling case using diplomatic cover. 

Raid for culprits has started based on the statements by Sarith Kumar, arrested former Kerala PRO for UAE consulate.

Since taking him into custody on Thursday, more people have been quizzed and officials have collected phone details of Sarith and Swapna Suresh, who has since been on the run.

From these leads, probe has extended to the king pin Sandeep Nair and a business in Koduvally.

As well as filing the anticipatory bail application online, Swpna released an audio message claiming innocence; however her whereabouts are still unknown.

The probe team will be strengthened by instituting special cell headed by top officials.

Customs has decided not to seek help of Kerala police in investigation for the moment.

Earlier, customs sought the help of Kerala police in locating Swpna Suresh.

However, customs decided against it after considering the fact that Swapna has been in touch with top police officials.

Investigation would be taken forward with the support of Central intelligence.

Customs will examine the CCTV footages from cameras on the cargo complex at the Thiruvananthapuram airport.

DGP Loknath Behera directed the city police commissioner to hand over the footages.  Customs in a letter have sought footages beginning from January.  The process for collecting videos has started at the control room.

Customs believes that gold had been smuggled for 10 times via diplomatic baggage.