Summary:
Muvattupuzha native Aslam and Kozhikode native Pratheesh, who assisted Faisal in smuggling gold using carriers, are the other two arrested accused. Customs havildar Sunil Francis and a carrier were arrested for smuggling out 3 kg of gold on March 2 and DRI sleuths were tracking the racket since. Officials said that though the customs imposed a fine of Rs 10 crore on Faisal then, he started smuggling activities again after he was released from the prison last year. K N Raghavan, the then Customs commissioner, had imposed a fine of Rs 90 crore on 54 accused persons in the case.Customs investigation found that the racket smuggled a total of 1,928 kg gold worth Rs 455 crore from Dubai. The accused have been remanded in judicial custody.Sources said that DRI has arrested six persons so far in the case and are tracing more persons who have arranged carriers for the smuggling racket.In 2017, Faisal was detained under Cofeposa (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) provision after the customs department found out about the racket involving Faisal..