KOCHI: In a major breakthrough in the probe into the smuggling of gold through te Cochin International Airport by the Muvattupuzha syndicate, a detention order has been invoked against nine people, including a police officer, under provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (Cofeposa).
The nine people include the smuggling syndicate kingpin PA Naushad of Muvattupuzha, police officer Jabin K Basheer, Salim, Shinoy, Bibin Scaria, Fazil, Faizal, Yazir and Saifudheen.
All nine allegedly had a major role in the serial smuggling carried out in a period of about two years through Kochi airport, which caused a loss of customs duty of about 3,000 kg of gold. Jabin, who was on deputation with the immigration wing of Kochi airport for about two years, alone had smuggled 1,500 kg of gold through the airport.
According to a customs official, Naushad, Jabin, Salim, Shinoy and Bibin were arrested and let out on bail earlier. However, with the invoking of Cofeposa, they are not entitled for bail for another one year and will now be put in Poojappura central prison in Thiruvananthapuram, the official said.
“The remaining four people are yet to be arrested. They have look-out circulars issued against them,” added the official.
Naushad was controlling the Muvattupuzha syndicate and had sought help from Jabin and others in smuggling gold through the Kochi airport. So far, Customs officials have arrested 35 people in the case, including Jabin’s father and brother. Saifudheen had helped Nuashad to build links with the staff of ground handling agencies at the airport. Bibin and Shinoy took over Saifudheen’s role when he stopped his job with the ground handling agency. Ground handling staff and Jabin were the main operators of the syndicate.
