KOCHI: In the sensational Kochi gold smuggling case, the statement given by another accused Sandeep Nair’s wife appears to be decisive. She has told Customs officials that earlier also her husband and Sarith, another accused in the case, have smuggled gold in joint operations.

“Sandeep went to Dubai now and then but I had no clue that the Dubai trip was for smuggling gold,” she said.

In 2014, Sandeep was arrested in another gold smuggling case. Now his wife has given the above statement even as police are ramping of efforts to find out Sandeep. At that time, Air Customs had raided Sandeep Nair’s house and seized some documents.

According to the Customs, the Sandeep-Swapna gold smuggling racket is years old.

Meanwhile, Sandeep’s mother said Sandeep and his wife Soumya knew gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh very well. Sandeep is a benami of Swapna Suresh and a CPM branch Committee member.

“I don’t know what my son is doing. I live a hard life though. I know Swapna. I have seen her when she came to inaugurate the shop. Again on two other occasions I have seen her. I don’t know anything more about her,” the mother said.