Kerala Gold Smuggling: Malappuram Businessman Rameez, Alleged To Be A Close Kin Of Senior Muslim League Leader, Arrested

A customs special investigation team on Sunday (Mar 13) arrestedK T Rameez, a Malappuram-based businessman in connection with the gold smuggling case, The New Indian Express reported.

Rameez, believed to be a lynchpin of the gold smuggling racket in Kerala, was nabbed from his residence at Vettathoor near Perinthalmanna in the wee hours of Sunday.

According to custom official, Rameez’s arrest was crucial to the progress of the investigation in to the gold smuggling case that has rocked the state with allegations emerging that another key player in the smuggling racket, Swapan Sundar, had close ties to the office of the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Rameez is said to be an investor and a distributor of smuggled gold in the state and custom officials are hoping that his custodial interrogation could provide furthers details of investors in the gold smuggling racket and key personnel involved in coordinating the smuggling, and the extent of involvement of Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair.

According to local reports, residents in Vettathoor have alleged that Rameez is a close relative of Malappuram MP and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty.

According to custom officials, Rameez has a criminal background and was earlier booked for smuggling gold and hunting deer. He has also another case registered against him for trying to smuggle six rifles to Kerala through the Kochi airport.

Another key suspect in the smuggling racket Swapna Suresh is said to have visited Perinthalmanna before proceeding to Bengaluru. Swapna and Sandeep Nair were arrested from Bengaluru