Kochi (Kerala): One more person has been arrested in the high profile Kerala gold smuggling case, according to the Customs officials.
Hamzath Abdu Salam, who hails from Manjeri in Malappuram district, was arrested by the customs officials. He will be produced before the economic offences court in Kochi today.
According to the officials, Salam spent his money on buying gold which was smuggled.
The probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed how the gold smuggling racket used the COVID-19 induced lockdown to smuggle large quantities of gold from abroad.
According to the NIA remand report submitted in the court in Kochi on Tuesday, the fourth accused Sandeep Nair during interrogation revealed how the gang used the COVID-19 situation to smuggle in gold.
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Sandeep has disclosed about the place where they conspired to commit the crime and also about the places where they had received the consignment as well as illegal proceeds. "Sandeep was taken to Thiruvananthapuram and pointing out proceedings was prepared at 11 places as pointed out by him in the presence of witnesses. A DVR suspected to have visuals of the meeting of accused have also been seized" told NIA in the court.
"Swapna had disclosed about her association with arrested accused Sarith and Sandeep besides other associates and suspects. She also disclosed about a conspiracy with Sarith and Sandeep and others at different locations in Trivandrum and had received the proceeds of the crime in cash through Sarith," said NIA.
The NIA is probing the 30 Kg of gold smuggled in a consignment that came in the name of the UAE consulate. It was busted by customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5.
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Three key accused -- Sarith PS, Swapna Suresh, and Sandeep Nair -- are currently under the custody of the NIA.
(Inputs from Agency)
