The NIA took custody of Ratheesh, a resident of Kannaur, Kerala, on his arrival from Dubai.
Ratheesh was a fugitive member of a gang involved in smuggling of large quantities of gold from various countries into India through diplomatic channels between 2019 and 2020.
The NIA had launched a manhunt for six of the absconding gang members, including Ratheesh, and had filed charge sheets against 20 accused on January 5, 2021.
The NIA investigation revealed that Ratheesh, an associate of charge-sheeted accused Hamsath Abdu Salam, had collected the smuggled gold from Thiruvananthapuram and transported it for sale to a person named Nandakumar from Coimbatore.
Thirty kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore was seized on July 5, 2020 at the Air Cargo of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport by the Customs from a piece of baggage addressed to a senior diplomat stationed in Thiruvananthapuram.
–IANS
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