'Serina smuggled gold via Thiruvananthapuram airport 40 times'; More persons to get trapped in case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the case related to smuggling of gold worth Rs 8 crore from Oman to Thiruvananthapuram via the airport, more people including airport staff are likely to get trapped. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had taken into custody Thirumala native Sunil Kumar (45) and his friend and Kazhakoottam native Serina (42) with a possession of 25 kg gold on Monday morning. It was while questioning them that the police got some valuable information about the gold smuggling racket that operated with Thiruvananthapuram airport and Dubai as bases.
The CCTV visuals showed that gold smuggling took place via the airport many times earlier. The staff who are suspected to have helped the smugglers are also being questioned.
Sunil and Serena smuggled gold in handbag with the help of airport staff. Since last November, both have been working as carriers and it is confirmed that Serena smuggled gold 40 times. They used to get Rs 10,000 each as reward for smuggling gold one time.
A KSRTC conductor, Sunil Kumar had discontinued his job seven years ago and even the KSRTC had started disciplinary action for his long absence.
An Ernakulam native, Serena was known in her locality as a beautician in Gulf. After completing initial examination, both will be presented before the Enforcement Directorate.