KOCHI: Officials of the Customs Department on Monday arrested three more ground handling employees of a private agency at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in connection with the recent seizure of gold at the airport.
According to Customs officials, the employees, together with a Muvattupuzha-based gold smuggling racket, smuggled in over 300 kg of gold through the domestic terminal.
Speaking to Express, the officials said they had arrested a total of 23 persons in connection with the case. Of which, 18 persons were ground handling employees of the CIAL, including former staff.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg as we have burst only the Muvattupuzha-based racket, so far. We have collected ample evidence to prove that gold smuggling syndicates are operating in and around all airports in the State,” they said.
The persons arrested by the Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch (SIIB) of the Customs Department on Monday have been identified Shamal, 24, of Payyannur in Kannur, who was working as a ground handling staff at Bird Worldwide Flight Services (BWFS); Mohammed Rafeeq, 30, of Kalady, a former ground handling staff; and Hamsa, 45, who is Kozhikode-based trader.
The agency has been monitoring half-a-dozen ground handling employees and members of gold smuggling rackets.
The officials said there would be more arrests in the coming days.
“Since the operations of the rackets are spread across the State, it would take more time to expose the full extent of unholy nexus between smugglers and airport staff,” said the officials.
