Gold Smugglers Brainwashed Carriers in the Name of Jihad

KOCHI: Customs officials investigating the gold smuggling by a Muvattupuzha-based racket through CIAL has received information that carriers were lured into the act in the name of funding jihadi operations.

Some of the arrested carriers also claimed they were brainwashed during the training provided to them and were told that paying duty to the government of India is against the tenets of Islam.

Though the Customs has arrested 32 persons including ground-handling staff, racketeers and carriers, it is estimated that the syndicate suspected to be run by Noushad, now in judicial custody, had recruited hundreds of carriers.  Cochin Customs Commissioner K N Raghavan told Express said they have shared the details of these ‘confessional’ statements to national investigation agencies.

Customs sources said they could not so far unearth the details of the fund transactions made by Noushad. Investigators collected details of movable and immovable assets of other accused.