Two Customs officials among 16 held for smuggling gold

The arrested Air Customs officials were identified as Vikash Sharma and EV Rajan, while the retired tax assistant was identified as Santhosh Kumar. The three along with 13 passengers who allegedly smuggled gold from different foreign countries, were remanded in judicial custody for 15 days by a court in Egmore on Friday.

On Wednesday, DRI had seized 12.69 kg gold worth Rs 5.44 crore from the 18 passengers who had arrived from Malaysia, Colombo and Dubai. Sources said the retired tax assistant was working as ‘coordinator’ between the smugglers and Customs officials.

 Santhosh Kumar would  talk to the Customs officials to know working shift of certain officials so that the smugglers can land at a time when these officials were on duty, DRI sources said.

When the DRI team was taking 18 passengers suspected to be involved in smuggling on Wednesday night for further inquiry at its office, an unidentified mob of around 50 people  attacked the officials and whisked away the suspects.However, of the 18 suspects, 13 persons returned. They were later asked to appear at the DRI office.All the 13 who appeared have been arrested along with the Customs officials and remanded to judicial custody.