Dawood Ibrahim Link Suspected In Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: NIA To Court By Michael Thomas15th October 2020Kerala, News Intelligence inputs suggest that proceeds from the gold smuggling were used for anti-national and terror activities, said the NIA. The NIA said Dawood Ibrahim’s gang may have a role in the Kerala gold smuggling case. New Delhi: Most-wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim’s gang may have had a role in the sensational Kerala gold smuggling case and the terror link needs to be probed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) told a court on Wednesday. Intelligence inputs suggested that proceeds from gold smuggling in Kerala were used for anti-India and terror activities, the top anti-terror agency said as it opposed bail for the accused in the case. To support this point, the agency cited a report by the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), the top intelligence body for economic agencies in India, submitted to the NIA Director General in October last year. “We have shared some inputs from CEIB with court in a sealed cover,” a senior official said. He said even the FATF or Financial Action Task Force, a global watchdog, had identified money-laundering and terror financing and vulnerabilities associated with gold. The Kerala case, which has shaken up the state’s politics, involves the smuggling of around 30 kg gold allegedly through diplomatic channels in July. The gold was seized at the Thiruvananthapuram airport from diplomatic baggage meant to be delivered to the UAE consulate. Links to the diplomatic channels needed to be examined further by keeping the accused in custody, the NIA told the special court. According to the agency, one of the accused, Ramees, had said during his interrogation that he had a diamond business in Tanzania and that he had bought gold from the country and sold it in the UAE.
