Kochi (Kerala): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted in the special NIA Court at Kochi in the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case that it suspects that the accused have links to Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company.
This was submitted as the response to the bail petitions of the seven accused in the case.
NIA said that accused Ramees KT and Sharafudheen had travelled to Tanzania and visited shops in the African country where guns are sold.
"In Tanzania, Rameez attempted to procure a licence for the diamond business. He later smuggled gold to the UAE," the NIA prosecutor said.
Also Read: Kerala Gold smuggling case: Customs quizzes M Sivasankar for 11 hours
"From the UAE, he brought gold to Kerala. Tanzania and Dubai are the main places where the D-company is active. In fact, D-company's affairs in Tanzania are handled by a South Indian named Firoz Oasis. We suspect Rameez's links with D-company. Rameez was caught by the Customs in November 2019 for smuggling 13 .22 mm bore rifles. This happened when the gold smuggling was taking place," NIA said.
Also Read: Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: Two main conspirators arrested in UAE
NIA informed the court that they had also retrieved a photo of the accused Sharafudheen holding a rifle in Tanzania.
NIA also said the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), the apex intelligence body for economic agencies in India, had sent a report to the Director-General of NIA during October 2019 regarding the probable use of proceeds from gold smuggling in Kerala, for terrorism and other anti-national activities.
It is to be noted here that the matter had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5.
(With inputs from agencies)
