Kerala gold smuggling case: Customs slaps stringent COFEPOSA on Swapna Suresh

An accused charged with COFEPOSA can be kept in preventive custody up to a year without trial.

Thiruvananthan: The Customs department which is probing the Kerala gold smuggling case has charged main accused Swapna Suresh and her accomplice Sandeep Nair under provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.

An accused charged with COFEPOSA can be kept in preventive custody up to a year without trial. The Customs slapped the provision after Swapna managed to obtain bail in two cases.

The main accused is currently behind bars as the National Investigation Agency continues to investigate alleged terror links in the gold smuggling case.

The gold smuggling racket came to light in July this year when the Customs department seized 30 kg of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore camouflaged in diplomatic baggage from the United Arab Emirates.