UAE to probe Rs 15 Cr gold smuggling bid to India

New Delhi/Dubai:  UAE authorities have initiated an investigation into the botched attempt to smuggle gold through diplomatic baggage consigned to the consular attache in the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.  The 30kg parcel of gold was seized by airport customs following suspicion by officers.

The UAE Embassy in India informed in a statement on Tuesday that the culprits won't be spared. "The culprits not only committed a major crime but also sought to tarnish the reputation of the UAE mission in India. We remain committed to cooperating with the Indian authorities in getting to the root of the crime," the mission said.

The parcel containing gold worth approximately Rs 15 crore million was intercepted on Sunday at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport by customs authorities.  The quantity of gold was concealed in cylinder form hidden among plumbing items, water taps and door locks. 

The consulate had in an earlier statement condemned the misuse of diplomatic channels to smuggle the gold. It said a former locally-hired employee was responsible for the act. The employee in question was fired for misconduct "long preceding this incident".

Sarith, 39, who is believed to have worked as a PRO with the consulate was arrested by Kerala police on Monday. The authorities are searching for another former employee, Swapna Suresh, who is at large and is believed to be the kingpin of the transaction.  A former executive secretary at the UAE Consulate, Swapna is the main suspect. Customs officials claimed the duo had been misusing the diplomatic channels to receive parcels from abroad.

Swapna, an employee at the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL), was instantly dismissed from service on her role as prime suspect being known.