Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi

Kochi, Oct 15: As a response to the bail petitions for the seven accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) stated that the accused are suspected to have links with Dawood Ibrahim's D-company, a report by ANI stated.

The investigation agency submitted this piece of information at the NIA special court in Kochi. "Accused Ramees KT and Sharafudheen had travelled to Tanzania and visited shops in the African country where guns are sold. In Tanzania, Ramees also try to procure a license for diamond business. He later smuggled gold to the UAE," the NIA prosecutor said.

"From the UAE, he brought gold to Kerala. Tanzania and Dubai are the main places where the D-company is active. In fact, D-company's affairs in Tanzania are handled by a South India named Firoz Oasis. We suspect Ramees' links with D-company. He was caught by the Customs in November 2019 for smuggling 13.22mm bore rifles. This happened when the gold smuggling was taking place," the prosecutor added.

Further, the NIA also revealed in the court that they had recovered Sharafudheen's photo holding a rifle in Tanzania.

The Kerala gold smuggling case made national news after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore was smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage. It was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5.