The investigation into the Kerala gold smuggling by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed startling details. According to the NIA, proceeds from the Kerala gold smuggling may have been used for funding terrorist activities.
As per details released by the NIA, around 150kg of gold was smuggled into Kerala over the past 10 months.
Key suspects Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair have been taken in by the NIA Court on Monday (Jul 13) and remanded in the agency’s custody till July 21.
Since the NIA has suspected terror funding, it has sought the custody of the two for probing “the terrorist angle”.
The agency is likely to invoke provisions of Section 16 and 17 of The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 UAPA, which prescribes punishment for raising funds for terrorist activities, against the accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair.
Investigators informed the Kochi-based NIA court that Swapna Suresh and Sarith Nair, who were previously employed at the UAE Consulate, and used the loophole in the movement of diplomatic baggage to smuggle gold.
As any transactions using cash/wire transfer can be traced, gold is being sued by terror groups for funding. The NIA told the special court that gold which was smuggled was not meant for jewellery groups.
One of accused Sandeep Nair claimed the gold was meant for UAE diplomat named Rashid Al Sheimeili and asked the court to question his role in the investigation.
Earlier, K T Rameez, a Malappuram-based businessman,was arrested on Sunday by a customs special investigation team. More information will come forth from this end as well and will help the investigation.
Rameez was nabbed from his residence at Vettathoor near Perinthalmanna in the early hours of Sunday (Jul 12). His arrest as per the customs is crucial to the progress of the investigation into the gold smuggling case.
The gold smuggling case has become a serious political problem for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan because Swapan Sundar, had close ties to the office of the CM office.
The arrest of Rameez and his subsequent interrogation in custody could provide further details of investors in the gold smuggling and key personnel involved in coordinating the smuggling in Kerala.