Kochi: Two years. Gold totalling 1,928 kg. `455 crore. That is the biggest haul of smuggled bullion in Kerala till date.
The Customs Department revealed the details in its final investigation report, accessed by Express, relating to a Muvattupuzha gang illegally trafficking gold from 2013 to 2015 through the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery.
The group headed by hawala operator P A Noushad utilised loopholes within the airport security system to smuggle in bullion worth `455,92,80,000 - to be precise - from Dubai. Recently, Customs had slapped a fine of `96 crore on the accused. The gang used a unique modus operandi after having influenced officials with the immigration department, along with ground and flight staffs. “The group used to conceal gold bars under the back seat of the ferry bus,” a Customs officer told Express.
“They were later picked up by ground handling staff and handed over to smugglers waiting outside. On other occasions, the gold was concealed in the toilet of the immigration department. When the Customs department started checking the toilets, the gold was concealed inside the AC vent of the fifth toilet. Jabin was given a special waist belt to stock the gold after retrieving it from the toilet and the AC vent. They did it on a daily basis. On some days, as much as 16 kg of gold was smuggled.”
10/02/17 Toby Antony
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The Customs Department revealed the details in its final investigation report, accessed by Express, relating to a Muvattupuzha gang illegally trafficking gold from 2013 to 2015 through the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery.
The group headed by hawala operator P A Noushad utilised loopholes within the airport security system to smuggle in bullion worth `455,92,80,000 - to be precise - from Dubai. Recently, Customs had slapped a fine of `96 crore on the accused. The gang used a unique modus operandi after having influenced officials with the immigration department, along with ground and flight staffs. “The group used to conceal gold bars under the back seat of the ferry bus,” a Customs officer told Express.
“They were later picked up by ground handling staff and handed over to smugglers waiting outside. On other occasions, the gold was concealed in the toilet of the immigration department. When the Customs department started checking the toilets, the gold was concealed inside the AC vent of the fifth toilet. Jabin was given a special waist belt to stock the gold after retrieving it from the toilet and the AC vent. They did it on a daily basis. On some days, as much as 16 kg of gold was smuggled.”
10/02/17 Toby Antony
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