THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the gold smuggling case needs to question key conspirator Faisal Fareed in order to maintain Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case. The agency believes that it might obtain crucial details about the source of funds used for gold smuggling by questioning Faisal. However, with Faisal getting arrested in the UAE, it might not be able to grill him anytime soon.

A total of 230 kg gold worth Rs 104 crore was smuggled through the diplomatic channel between July 2019 and 30 June 2020. The agency is trying to find the sources of this Rs 104 crore. It believes that the gold might have been smuggled using the funds obtained from those with terror links.

According to the agency, Faisal, with the help of others, had smuggled gold through diplomatic cargo of the UAE consulate at Thiruvananthapuram by forging or deceitfully obtaining authorisation certificates from UAE diplomats. To confirm this, it needs to ensure that it was Faisal who had sent the gold from Dubai 23 times. It also needs to find the weight of the baggage sent to Kerala.