Malappuram, July 12 (UNI) The Customs officials on Sunday arrested a Perinthalmanna-native businessman in connection with gold smuggling in diplomatic baggage via Thiruvananthapuram international airport, which was busted by the Air Customs Intelligence early this week.
According to sources, the man who has been taken into custody from his residence has business connections with the accused in the case.
The sources added that the alleged accused have made huge investments in the gold smuggling besides been in close rapport with the kingpins of the smuggling racket.
A Special Investigation Team of the Customs was probing the case, having nexus with high ranking bureaucrats and rapport with political leaders whereas the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also registered a case and arrested the two prime accused in the case - Sandeep Nair and Swapna Suresh, from Bangalore on Saturday.
While the Customs were focussing to unearth the roots of gold smuggling, the NIA was probing the funding part and terrorist links.
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