Thiruvananthapuram: The DRI has issued a lookout notice against lawyer Biju Manoharan, the first accused in the smuggling of 25 kg of gold through Thiruvananthapuram airport.
The DRI is also likely to issue a lookout notice against his associate Vishnu and Dubai-based Jithu. Manoharan has sought anticipatory bail in the High Court.
DRI officials have found that the racketeers had been employing women for the operations. Dubai-based beauty parlour owner Sarina recruited its members. The DRI has so far arrested three persons, including Sarina and
advocate Vineetha Ratnakumari, wife of Biju Manoharan. It had identified a woman who acted as a carrier and who has promised to cooperate with the investigation. She is being questioned to get more information on the
racket.
The modus operandi was to send a woman along with a man for the smuggling. Women were easy to trace even if they escaped with the gold. Moreover, the man and woman can pose as a family.
The DRI had on Monday seized gold worth `8 crore weighing 25 kg from the airport and arrested KSRTC conductor Sunil along with Sarina.
The DRI also questioned the friends of Biju to get more information about him.
