NEW DELHI: The Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch of Customs probing the gold smuggling case at the Cochin International Airport have arrested two more persons in this connection.
The arrested have been identified as Siraj T.K., 26, of Kochi, who is employed with the Bird Worldwide Flight Services (BWFS), a ground handling agency, and Abdul Latheef, 25, of Perumbavoor, attached to a private airliner. With this, the total number of people arrested in connection with the case has risen to 19.
During interrogation, they confessed to smuggling 33 kg and 25 kg of gold respectively out of the airport through the domestic terminal, sources said. The arrested were produced in court in the evening and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
On Thursday, the Air Intelligence sleuths at the airport seized 2 kg of gold from a passenger from Sharjah.
The person was identified as Riyas, a native of Kozhikode, who arrived here on an Air India Express flight from Sharjah that had been rerouted from Kozhikode. Inspections revealed that he had concealed two bars of gold, weighing 1 kg each, inside his shoes.
During interrogation, he confessed to carrying the contraband for monetary benefits and spoke of the plan to hand over the gold to the handler before reaching the immigration point at Kozhikode airport. But the unexpected flight diversion upset the plan of carrier and the racketeers.
