Two accused in Kerala gold smuggling case remanded to judicial custody

Two accused in Kerala gold smuggling case have been remanded to 30-day judicial custody. The NIA has registered a case against four people, including the key woman suspect, for their alleged involvement in smuggling 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in diplomatic baggage.

Kochi:An NIA Court here on Sunday remanded to judicial custody, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the two key accused arrested in connection with the gold smuggling case in Kerala. The duo were produced before the NIA special court, where the investigation agency moved an application, seeking their custody for interrogation.

The Court will on Monday consider the application seeking custody of the accused, who were brought to the state from Bengaluru this morning.

The accused, remanded to 30-day custody, underwent the mandatory COVID-19 test and would be sent to coronavirus care facilities. They were taken into custody by the NIA on Saturday in Bengaluru.

Sarith, Swapna Prabha Suresh, and Sandeep Nair and Fazil Fareed have been named in the case which relates to the seizure of 30 kg of 24-carat gold worth Rs 14.82 crore at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi.

Read:Kerala gold smuggling: Customs sleuths raid former secy's apartment

The Customs sleuths had earlier conducted a day-long inspection at the apartment of Swapna Suresh, at Ambalamukku. Meanwhile, Sarith, the first accused in the case, has confessed to having smuggled gold ten times!

The consignment was found camouflaged in diplomatic baggage from the UAE that is exempted from inspection as per the Vienna Convention.

The consignment was to be received by Sarith, who had worked in the UAE consulate earlier as a public relations officer.

Read:I have no role in gold smuggling, says case suspect Swapna Suresh

The Customs had requested CCTV footage from the premises of the Thiruvananthapuram airport. However, the police have reportedly informed that it has not installed any CCTV cameras in the airport premises.

(with inputs from PTI)