Money Trail: Vigil at airport nets 12 kg gold
Most of the seizures were made during the bid to smuggle through road, mainly from other states.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of the surveillance against the flow of illegal money for electioneering, about 12.09 kilogram gold and Rs 4.75 lakh in cash illegally smuggled through the three airports in the state were seized by the customs officials over the last one month.
According to sources, a major chunk of the seizures was made from Karippur airport in Kozhikode. “Of the 12.09 kilogram gold seized, about nine kilogram was from passengers who arrived at the Kozhikode airport. Most of the passengers intercepted for smuggling came from Gulf countries,” said sources.
As per a directive of the Election Commission of India, customs officials have stepped up vigil at the airports and seaports over the last one month. “Though there was no confirmation yet that the gold and currency being smuggled were intended for electioneering, the chances for it could not be ruled out. The seizures were made after the carriers failed to show convincing evidence of the source of the funds,” said a customs official.
There had been allegations that many prominent parties were receiving massive funds from Gulf countries for electioneering over the years. Over Rs 22 crore was seized from all over the state till the other day as part of the special drives against the flow of illegal money for electioneering. Most of the seizures were made during the bid to smuggle through road, mainly from other states.