Kerala gold smuggling case: Customs officials take statement of accused Fazil Fareed

In connection with the gold smuggling case, Kerala Customs officials took the statement of Fazil Fareed, who is the third accused in the case. The statement was taken through a phone call as Fareed was in Dubai. Notably, a Special National Investigation Agency court has sent accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair to 14-day judicial remand.

Kochi (Kerala): Customs officials in Kochi took a statement from Fazil Fareed, who is the third accused in the gold smuggling case, through a phone call.

Fazil is now in Dubai and according to Customs officials, they called his friend to contact him and took the statement.

He is a native of Kodungalloor Moonnupeedika in Thrissur district. Today, a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has sent accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair to 14-day judicial remand in Kerala gold smuggling case.

They will now go to quarantine centres, while Swapna Suresh will go to a quarantine centre in Thrissur district and Sandeep Nair to a quarantine centre in Karukutty in Angamaly.

Earlier the NIA team from Bengaluru reached Kochi NIA office with the duo. Both were detained by NIA from Bengaluru, Karnataka on Saturday. Swapna is named as the second accused and Sandeep has been named as the fourth accused in the FIR taken by NIA and both have been slapped with Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, (UAPA) along with first accused Sarith PS and third accused Fazil Fareed.

Already, Sarith PS was arrested by the Customs, while Fazil Fareed is still at large.

NIA officials on Saturday conducted a detailed interrogation of Sarith after reaching the customs office in Kochi where he is in custody.

Kerala DGP had constituted a special investigation team headed by Kochi City Deputy Commissioner of Police G Poonguzhali.

The Customs Department had on July 5 seized 30 kg gold worth Rs 15 crore concealed in diplomatic consignment at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

(ANI Report)