KOCHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against 11 persons, including the Superintendent of Customs, in a gold smuggling case through Karipur Airport. The FIR and the list of accused were filed before a special CBI judge in Ernakulam in a sealed envelope to prevent the information of the accused from being leaked.

Such a move was made as further inspections are required at the homes and establishments of those close to the accused in connection with the case. Earlier, during a search at the Karipur airport, Rs 3 lakh was seized in cash. Later, during a raid on the houses of customs officials, gold jewellery worth Rs 1 crore was found. Subsequently, a case was registered against them.

The CBI registered the case with the permission of the Union Finance Ministry. Disciplinary action has also been recommended against the accused. Despite repeated reports of large-scale gold smuggling in Karipur for some jewellers in North Kerala, customs officials did not take any significant action. It was then suspected that they were also involved.

The CBI raid was carried out on the evaluation that large-scale gold smuggling could not have taken place without the support of customs officials. It has been found that large amounts of gold was smuggled through the Karipur airport from the Gulf countries.