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NEW DELHI: Swapna Suresh, the key suspect in the gold smuggling bid through diplomatic baggage, was on Saturday arrested in Bengaluru by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with her family members.
Another accused Sandeep Nair has also been arrested by the NIA in the case.
Swapna Suresh will be taken to Kochi tomorrow and produced before the NIA Special Court.
The NIA had on Friday registered a case against four people, Swapna Suresh, for their alleged involvement in smuggling 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a diplomatic baggage in Kerala, an official said.
The Centre had allowed the NIA to investigate the case in view of the “serious implications for national security”.
Swapna Prabha Suresh, Sarith and Sandeep Nair of Thiruvananthapuram and Fazil Fareed of Ernakulum have been named in the case which relates to the seizure of 30 kg of 24 carat gold worth Rs 14.82 crore at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi
The consignment was found camouflaged in diplomatic baggage from the UAE that is exempted from inspection as per the Vienna Convention, the official said.
The consignment was to be received by Sarith, who had worked in the UAE consulate earlier as a public relations officer, the NIA spokesperson said.
Initial investigation by the Customs department has revealed that Sarith had received multiple such consignments earlier as well, the official said.
Another accused Sandeep Nair has also been arrested by the NIA in the case.
Swapna Suresh will be taken to Kochi tomorrow and produced before the NIA Special Court.
The NIA had on Friday registered a case against four people, Swapna Suresh, for their alleged involvement in smuggling 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a diplomatic baggage in Kerala, an official said.
The Centre had allowed the NIA to investigate the case in view of the “serious implications for national security”.
Swapna Prabha Suresh, Sarith and Sandeep Nair of Thiruvananthapuram and Fazil Fareed of Ernakulum have been named in the case which relates to the seizure of 30 kg of 24 carat gold worth Rs 14.82 crore at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi
The consignment was found camouflaged in diplomatic baggage from the UAE that is exempted from inspection as per the Vienna Convention, the official said.
The consignment was to be received by Sarith, who had worked in the UAE consulate earlier as a public relations officer, the NIA spokesperson said.
Initial investigation by the Customs department has revealed that Sarith had received multiple such consignments earlier as well, the official said.
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