3 Gulf-based Indians Accounts Frozen

2 October 2013

Kerala

Investigation into the gold smuggling racket from Gulf countries to India through Kochi’s Nedumbassy International Airport has been intensified after two female passengers from a Gulf airport were arrested by Customs officials.

On Sunday, the Kochi unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation decided to freeze the bank accounts of four Gulf-based Indians, allegedly involved in the gold smuggling racket that saw nearly 58 kgs of gold smuggled through the Nedumbasserry International Airport in the last two months.

A senior Customs Officer has been suspended for facilitating gold smuggling nine other officials have been transferred. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started an investigation into the gold smuggling racket allegedly with the connivance of senior officials and politicians in the state of Kerala. The bank accounts of TKF, a Gulf-based NRI (Non-Resident Indian) who is the main accused and two females who carried gold biscuits and a Customs officer, are frozen as part of the investigation into the alleged links with the hawala racket.

The CBI is investigating how the money was transferred to these bank accounts.

SK, a preventive officer has been suspended from service and the CBI has filed a case against the Deputy Customs Commissioner for allegedly facilitating gold smuggling by TKF and his accomplice Ashraf, another Gulf-based NRI. TKF has been arrested and Ashraf is being investigated.

The CBI Kochi Unit has taken over the investigation into the gold smuggling racket from Gulf countries to India and conducted raids in the offices of the suspected officials.

Media reports from India suggest that four people have been arrested in connection with the gold smuggling through the Nedumbasserry International Airport Kochi. More arrests are likely, the Press Trust of India, reported quoting the Customs Commissioner KN Raghavan.

Source – http://www.emirates247.com

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