Customs staff involved in smuggling arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Regional Unit, Mangaluru arrested an employee of the Customs department for his involvement in smuggling of gold at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA).

The arrested custom staff was identified as Ashwin.

DRI sleuths had arrested one Nizar Khadar Mulleria for smuggling 12 tola bars of gold and 1 sheet of gold weighing 1515.270 grams worth Rs 47 lakh, on September 20, when he arrived from Dubai to Mangaluru.

Later, the officials had arrested Mangaluru Airport officer Srikanth for helping Nizar and seized gold worth Rs 25 lakh.

The DRI officials, who continued the investigation, then arrested one Akbar Siddiq who was purchased the smuggled gold.

During the interrogation, Siddiq spilled the beans on the involvement of Customs official Ashwin.