THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rob Edison, the 36-year-old Ghana national who was arrested a day back with fake British pounds worth `3 crore told cops on Monday his boss Philip in Bengaluru had asked him to give the notes to him upon reaching Kovalam. However, the cops are convinced Edison is hiding facts.
“Prima facie, it appears Edison was simply a carrier. Efforts are on to check his antecedents. Despite his claim he was travelling to Kovalam beach to hand over the money to the same persons who gave him the notes, we feel he is trying to hide facts,” the cops said.
“Still, we received a vital piece of information regarding the identity of the boss. A probe is on to trace him. We will also check for involvement of more persons in the racket,” said Parassala SI S B Praveen. The cops also suspect Edison is a member of an international fake lottery racket.
Excise officers had intercepted Edison with the fake notes at the Amaravila check-post from a Thiruvananthapuram-bound private Volvo bus from Bengluru during a routine inspection. He was taken into custody and handed over to the Parassala Police. He had tried to destroy evidence, including his SIM card and was also not cooperating with the police initially.
He was produced before the magistrate who remanded him in judicial custody. The police will seek permission to take him into the custody for further interrogation.
Inspections at the checkpost were intensified recently following a spurt in smuggling of goods and narcotics through private and public transport buses.