KOCHI: Customs officials imposed a fine of Rs 90 crore on 54 persons who are accused in notorious gold smuggling through Cochin International Airport from Dubai. There were 56 accused in the case and later two were dropped from the proceedings since there were no evidence against them.
The order, issued by customs commissioner K N Raghavan on Friday night, asked to attach around 15 vehicles, belonging to the accused and three kg gold seized from a jewellery shop in Muvattupuzha. Main accused P A Noushad has been fined for Rs 50 crore. Emigration assistant Jabin K Basheer, who facilitated smuggling of gold from inside CIAL to the vehicles parked outside the airport, has been fined with Rs 20 crore.
The incident related to the case was happened during two years period starting from 2013. Customs could seize only 13kg gold. But, as per the statement given by the accused and evidence collected, the racket smuggled around 2000 kg gold during this period.
