KOCHI: The Customs department on Saturday arrested three more persons in connection with the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case. The three have been identified as Kottakkal native PT Abdu, Koduvally native KV Muhammed Abdu Shameem and Vattakkinar native CV Jifsal. It is learnt that the accused had close links with accused KT Rameez and were involved in purchasing and investing on smuggled gold.

Earlier, the Customs had seized 3.72 kg unaccounted gold from Hessa jewellery in Kozhikode. With this, the total number of persons arrested by the customs in connection with the gold smuggling case has reached 15.