Kerala gold smuggling: Sarith brought to Kochi for interrogation

Sarith, former staff with the UAE consulate has been brought to Kochi for interrogation, on Monday. He is an accused in smuggling gold through the diplomatic baggage channel at Thiruvananthapuram Airport.

Kochi (Kerala):Sarith, the accused in smuggling gold through the diplomatic baggage channel at Thiruvananthapuram Airport, was been brought to Kochi for interrogation, on Monday. He is being questioned by the investigators at the Customs Preventive Commissioner Office, in Kochi. Customs department would also record Sarith’s arrest on Monday itself.

Sarith, the former staff with the UAE consulate, duped as a Public Relations Officer for the fraud. It was found during the interrogation that Sarith used to get up to Rs 25 lakh from the dealers for smuggling gold once. The investigation team has got details about Sarith’s other partners involved in gold smuggling.

The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and intelligence officials would also interrogate the accused who has been arrested.

The recent gold seizure at Thriruvananthapruram, in this case, was the biggest seizure reported of gold smuggling through airports in Kerala. The customs officers seized 30 kilograms of gold. The offenders were exploiting the diplomatic security channel which was to send and receive baggage from the embassy or consulate of one country to that of another.

It is the luggage which had reached the airport with the approval of the Foreign Affairs Ministry that was checked and seized by the Customs officers at Thiruvananthapuram.

Sarith’s operations were in association with another former consulate staff Swapna Suresh, who was a staff with the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) till Monday. Her involvement in the case was revealed while questioning Sarith.

According to the Customs department, Swapna Suresh is absconding. The investigation team is on the lookout for her.

M Shivashanker, Information Technology department secretary released an order of expulsion of the accused Swapna Suresh, due to her alleged involvement in the gold smuggling case.

Swapna was working as the liaison officer with KSITIL under the IT department. She was also appointed as the project manager with the Space Park, on a temporary basis for 6 months. In the wake of COVID, the service contract was extended for 2 more months.

Swapna was appointed with the IT department after being terminated from the UAE consulate.

The investigation is on regarding her role in the gold smuggling.