Bengaluru: Two key accused in the sensational gold smuggling case in Kerala, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Bengaluru on Saturday, official sources said. Both will be produced before NIA Court in Kochi, Kerala today.
Swapna, a former employee of the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram is among the four accused booked by the NIA in the smuggling of 30 kg of gold through diplomatic baggage which arrived at the Thiruvanathapuram International airport on July 5.
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The gold valued at around Rs 15 crore was seized by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi. Swapna, Sarith and Sandeep Nair of Thiruvananthapuram and Fazil Fareed of Ernakulam have been listed in the smuggling case as accused.
Both Swapna and Sandeep had been on the run since their names cropped up in connection with the case a few days ago. Sarith was already arrested by the Customs (Preventive) Department.
The Central agencies including the NIA and the Customs had opposed Swapna's anticipatory bail plea in the Kerala high court.
The two accused were taken into custody a day after the NIA began the investigation into the case after a Union Home Ministry order in this connection.
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The NIA had on Friday registered the FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and said it has taken up the probe as the case has international linkages and as the initial inquiries have revealed the proceeds of the smuggled gold could be used for financing terrorism in India.
Also, as the case pertains to smuggling of a large quantity of gold into India from offshore locations, threatening the economic stability and national security of the country, it amounts to a terrorist act as stated in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
