Kochi: The customs department has taken Soumya, wife of Sandeep, a friend of gold smuggling case accused Sarith, to Kochi on Wednesday afternoon. She is currently being interrogated by the customs department. She was taken into custody from Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday morning.

Sandeep is a close associate of gold smuggling case accused Sarith and Swapna Suresh. Sandeep has also gone missing since the incident. It is reported that Sandeep was also involved in the smuggling. An institution called Carbon Doctor, owned by Sandeep, was inaugurated by Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan.

Meanwhile, Swapna, who has been absconding, is yet to be caught. The customs department is continuing their search for the accused. There are reports which suggest that she is hiding in Thiruvananthapuram while other reports suggest that she has escaped to Tamil Nadu. It is also reported that some famous advocates in Kochi have been approached by those close to Swapna Suresh in an effort to procure an anticipatory bail.

Quoting a senior customs official, news agency PTI reported that a look out notice will be issued against Swapna Suresh in order to stop her from fleeing the country. The customs official stated that Swapna will be caught and that trying to escape will only get her into more trouble. He also said that the department has certain information regarding her whereabouts.