Kerala gold smuggling: NIA filed a charge sheet against 20 assused

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 20 people, including Sarith P. S. and Swapna Suresh for their alleged involvement in smuggling 30 kg of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a diplomatic baggage into Kerala that is known as the Kerala gold smuggling case, an official said.

AN NIA spokesperson here said that besides Swapna Suresh and Sarith P.S. the agency has named Ramees K. T., Jalal A. M., Mohammed Shafi P., Saidalavi E., Abdu P. T., Rabins Hameed, Muhammedali Ebrahim, Muhammedali, Sharafuddeen K. T., Mohammed Shafeeq A., Hamzath Abdulsalam, Samju T. M., Hamjad Ali K., Jifsal C. V., Aboobacker P., Muhammed Abdu Shameem K. V., Abdul Hameed and Shamshudeen under several sections of UAPA.

The official said that during investigation 31 other persons, who had conspired and financed gold smuggling besides facilitating the disposal of the contraband and transfer of proceeds thereof to the UAE through hawala channels, for purchasing and smuggling more gold, with the intention of threatening the economic security of India, were arraigned as accused in the case. Till now, 21 persons have been arrested in the case by NIA, while eight accused persons are absconding.

The accused had knowingly conspired since June, 2019, raised funds and smuggled from UAE, between November, 2019 and June, 2020, around 167 Kgs of gold, through the import cargo addressed to diplomats at the Consulate General of UAE in Thiruvananthapuram. (IANS)

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