Customs officials are in hot pursuit of those behind the gold smuggling racket. The officials are following up crucial leads collected after the arrest and interrogation of Fayaz P.K.
Fayaz, 38, of Mahe, was detained at New Delhi Airport on Sunday. He is allegedly the main accused in the attempt to smuggle 20 kg of gold through the Cochin International Airport here on Thursday. Two women, who were arrested at Nedumbassery airport on charge of attempting to smuggle gold, gave information about the racket. The Customs Preventive Commissionerate soon issued a lookout notice against Fayaz. He was stopped at Delhi while attempting to leave for Dubai. It is learnt that Fayaz told the Customs that he had in the past smuggled in gold three times. Fayaz was produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) and remanded on Monday.
“It is not often that probe into cases registered for attempted smuggling goes beyond carriers. This time, we got some leads into the network. We are working on them to nab the real financiers of the racket,” said K.N. Raghavan, Customs Commissioner. Top Customs sources said the investigation was in its early stages and it would take time to confirm media reports that Fayaz had connections with political leaders, the police and senior Customs officials.
