Thiruvananthapuram: The key partner of Biju Manoharan, the main accused in the gold smuggling racket at the international airport here, has been identified as Hakeem, manager of a jewellery shop in the Attukal shopping complex in the city. Gold worth crores of rupees was handed over to Hakeem many times.
Hakeem, a native of Malappuram, and his aides are absconding. His houses in Malappuram and Thiruvananthapu-ram were raided by the DRI.
A few customs officials were questioned about their role in the incident in which the DRI had seized gold worth Rs 8 crore weighing 25 kilograms from the airport on May 12. A KSRTC conductor Sunil was arrested along with a woman, Sarina.
The DRI had arrested and questioned many contract employees at the airport in the last two months. Anish, a contract employeet, was held for trying to smuggle 82 gold bars weighing 9.5 kilograms on April 30.
On April 13, the DRI arrested four officers at the airport in connection with the smuggling of over 100 kg of gold in the past six months.
On April 11, Muhammed Shiyas, an employee of AISATS, the ground cargo agency, was held for aiding gold smugglers.
