Kochi: The NIA has reiterated in its remand report that the smugglers have terrorist links in the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case.

Ramees and Moovattupuzha native Jalal were among those who handled the financial side of the smuggling. It is suspected that gold smuggling was used to aid terrorist activities in several ways. Moreover, using diplomatic baggage to smuggle gold has created problems at the diplomatic level as well.

The investigators need to find out those who benefitted from the smuggling, including terrorist links. The investigation team is hoping that a digital video recorder seized during evidence collection has footage which could be crucial evidence in the case. Evidence was collected from the bags seized from the two.

The remand report filed by the NIA states that K. T. Ramees is an important link in the smuggling chain. It also said that Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair have confessed to the crime. The NIA also found that the gang was communicating through Telegram app and seeks to extend the custody period of Swapna and Sandeep.

Earlier, the Customs department had made similar findings. The NIA report justifies the same. However, Swapna Suresh has approached the court alleging that NIA’s findings were not true. Swapna Suresh deposited the money she received from gold smuggling through various means. She has several bank accounts and has deposited gold. The NIA is investigating them.

Efforts on to retrieve chats

The NIA has found Swapna’s chats with the representative of the UAE. According to the NIA, chats of Swapna and Sandeep from the time when the Customs department seized the gold until they were arrested were in their Telegram accounts. The two had deleted the very important messages among them. Efforts are on to retrieve those messages.

6 mobile phones and 2 laptops

The NIA had seized 6 mobile phones and two laptops from Swapna and they were examined in detail. Among the phones, two had face-lock systems and they were opened and inspected in the presence of Swapna.