Kerala Gold Smuggling: NIA Likely To Send Officials To UAE To Further Investigation Through Diplomatic Route

In a major development with ragards to Kerala's sensational diplomatic gold smuggling case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to send its officials to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take the investigation further, reports Economic Times.

This gains significance as the NIA suspects that the gold smuggling case could be linked to terrorism financing. Thus, the NIA is likely to examine all those involved in the handling of diplomatic consignments, distribution network and money transfers to hawala agents in the UAE.

The investigations have been moving ahead at a brisk pace, with six more suspects alleged to be involved in the smuggling racket being nabbed in Kerala by the NIA last week.

The NIA is expected to send its officials to the UAE after obtaining special permission owing to COVID-19. It should also be noted that due to the pandemic, international flights had been suspended on 25 March, and have been allowed again only recently in a bilateral bubble agreement.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the revelation of the smuggling racket has placed Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan in a tough spot, with his former Principal Secretary and close aide M Sivasankar also having been allegedly involved. Sivasankar has already been questioned by the NIA over his alleged involvement in the racket.