Thiruvananthapuram: DRI on gold trail raids houses of customs officers

Thiruvananthapuram: The DRI has searched the houses of a customs superintendent and two inspectors in connection with the seizure of 25 kilograms of gold from the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Monday.

Sources said that the DRI officials were also examining the travel history of the carriers and comparing it with the duty schedules of customs officials to find out if they had received inside help.

The air travel manifests were being checked to ascertain their arrival timings.

The digital records of those arrested, including mobile phone records, messages and social media history, were also being traced to trace their connections.
Several central agencies are involved in the investigation which focused on one major jewellery chain to ascertain whether the gold smuggling was related to the tax evasion racket.

The main suspects in the case, Jithu, who is in Dubai, advocate Biju Manoharan, the prime accused in the case, and alleged accomplice Vishnu are still absconding.

The DRI had seized gold worth Rs 8 crore from the airport and arrested Sunil Kumar, a KSRTC conductor who acted as a carrier, and Serina, who runs a beauty parlour in Dubai, who accompanied him.

Advocate Vineetha Ratnakumari, wife of Biju Manoharan, was also arrested by the DRI in connection with the case.