ED gets custody of 3 people in gold smuggling case

NEWDELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday obtained the custody of three people, including main accused Swapna Suresh, in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling-money laundering case, officials said.

The agency got their custody from a special NIA court in Thiruvananthapuram. Sarith PS, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair were arrested by the

National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier.

The three will be questioned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said.

The case emerged on July 5 when gold, weighing over 30 kg, was seized by the Customs Department from the “diplomatic baggage” at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport from the Gulf.