The case
relates to seizure of 30 kg of smuggled gold from a diplomatic cargo
|
New Delhi(Agencies): The
Centre on Thursday decided to hand over to National Investigation Agency (NIA)
the probe into the gold smuggling case detected at the Thiruvananthapuram international
airport in Kerala, claiming that the incident “may have serious implications
for national security”.
The decision came a day after
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, seeking his “intervention for an effective investigation” into
the seizure of gold worth crores of rupees from a “diplomatic baggage” at the
airport in the state capital.
“The MHA permits the National Investigation
Agency (NIA) to investigate the Thiruvananthapuram airport gold smuggling case,
as the organised smuggling operation may have serious implications for national
security,” The MHA statement read.
Meanwhile the Embassy of the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) here is extending all cooperation in the gold
smuggling case that has acquired political overtones. “The matter is under
investigation,” said MEA official spokesperson on the incident.
The UAE embassy has been brought
into the matter because key suspect Swapna Suresh has told the Kerala High
Court that she had contacted the Customs officer at Thiruvananthapuram airport
on the directions of Rashid Khamis Al Shameli, acting head of the local UAE
Consulate.
The gold, weighing over 30 kg,
was seized from the “diplomatic baggage” that had landed by air cargo at the
Thiruvananthapuram international airport recently from the Gulf. After
detecting the smuggled gold, the Customs department was of the view that it
suspected a smuggling syndicate behind the act, which misused the name of a
person, who enjoys diplomatic immunity.
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