Kerala gold smuggling case involving Swapna Suresh: NIA raids Coimbatore smithery unit, seizes gold and cash

COIMBATORE: National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials raided a gold ornaments manufacturing unit in Coimbatore on Wednesday in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case involving Swapna Suresh.
Sources said the NIA officials had seized 38 sovereigns of gold ornaments and Rs 2.75 lakh in cash from the unit -- called Sri Senthur Jewels – and from the house of its owner J Nandagopal, 41.
The NIA had already arrested Swapna Suresh for illegally smuggling gold to Kerala from Gulf countries. Investigations revealed that she had handed over gold bars to Nandagopal and they had money transactions too.
Following information, an NIA team led by DSP Sahul Hameed visited Coimbatore city from Kochi on Wednesday and conducted the raid at the gold ornaments manufacturing unit in Pavizham Street -2 starting 6am.
The officials raided Nandagopal’s house too. Nandagopal is residing on the first and second floors of the building. The unit is functioning from the ground floor.
The officials were conducting inquiries with Nandagopal when the report was filed.