KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has clarified that the accused in the diplomatic channel gold smuggling case had formed a terrorist group and recruited people for smuggling gold to the state. It also stated that Swapna Suresh and Sarith were also part of this gang. This crucial information was mentioned in the charge sheet filed by the NIA in the special court in Kochi on January 5. Meanwhile, the former principal secretary to the chief minister, M Sivasankar has not been named as an accused in the case.

According to the charge sheet, the gold smuggling, which has been going on since 2019, was aimed at undermining the country's internal security and financial stability. The terrorist group was formed to smuggle gold. They worked to help each other. 167 kg of gold was smuggled through the diplomatic channel. The operation was carried out knowing that large-scale smuggling of gold would be detrimental to national security and economic security. The accused also tried to sever friendly relations between India and the UAE. The charge sheet was prepared after a detailed investigation into the terror links of the accused.

The NIA has found that money that was collected from home and abroad was turned into gold which was then smuggled to India. The money collected by selling this gold in India was smuggled back as 'reverse hawala'. The money was used to buy and smuggle gold again. The accused were also charged under Section 20 of the UAPA due to their terrorist links.