KOCHI:The special investigation team (SIT) probing a case pertaining to the smuggling of narcotic items to the Gulf countries on Monday submitted before the Kerala High Court that it has unearthed the involvement of drug peddlers having inter-state and international connections in the case.
The SIT filed the statement in response to a petition filed by the mothers of four youths jailed in Doha on charges of drug smuggling, seeking CBI probe into the activities of the agents who had arranged visas for them.
The plea was filed by the mothers of Ashik Ashly, 22, from Angamaly; Kevin Mathew, 26, from Kottayam; Adithya Mohanan, 21, from Alappuzha, and Sarath Sasi, 24, from Ernakulam. The petitioners submitted their sons were trapped by the agents. The visas were arranged by persons named Sahni, Rafees, Rashid and Jayesh.
These agents had maintained a cordial relationship with the youths. In fact, the bags were handed over to them after they had just checked in at the Karipur airport. They were told the bags contained articles meant for their relatives living in Doha and they would be collected at the Doha Airport, the plea stated.
The SIT informed the court that most of the suspects in the case are either located at or staying in Bangalore, Kasaragod and Kannur. The police had on July 23 arrested P V Rahees, 21, Mattool, Kannur, in connection with the case and the court remanded him in judicial custody. The SIT has also sought the custody of the accused. We have received some vital information from the arrested, the police said.
The members of the investigation team are now staying in Kasargod, Kannur and Pathanamthitta to locate the remaining accused persons. "Most of the suspects are using SIM cards taken either in their relatives' or friends' names. Hence, it is very difficult to locate the accused persons," the SIT submitted.
The team sought more time to complete the investigation.