NIA Arrests Accused in Gold Smuggling Case at Thiruvananthapuram Airport
Published By: Kavya Mishra
Last Updated: September 20, 2023, 23:48 IST
Image source: news18.com
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made an arrest in a case related to the smuggling of gold using diplomatic baggage. The accused, Ratheesh, a resident of Kannur, was apprehended upon his arrival at the Thiruvananthapuram airport from Dubai. Ratheesh was a fugitive member of a gang involved in the smuggling of large quantities of gold from various countries into India through diplomatic channels between 2019 and 2020.
According to the NIA, Ratheesh’s arrest comes as a breakthrough in the ongoing investigation. The agency had been on a manhunt for six members of the gang, all of whom were absconding. Charge sheets had been filed against 20 accused, including Ratheesh, on January 5, 2021.
Investigations revealed that Ratheesh, who was associated with the charge-sheeted accused Hamsath Abdu Salam, had collected the smuggled gold from Thiruvananthapuram and transported it for sale to Nandakumar in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
The NIA’s investigation began after a consignment of gold weighing 30 kg and valued at Rs 14.82 crore was seized on July 5, 2020, at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The gold was found in a piece of baggage addressed to a senior diplomat stationed in Kerala’s capital city.
The agency stated that the investigation into the case is still ongoing.
(Note: This article is published from a syndicated news agency feed and has not been edited by News18 staff)
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