Kerala gold smuggling case

The seizure of 30 kg of smuggled gold from a diplomatic cargo addressed to the UAE Consulate-General Office in Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as a major controversy in Kerala, where smuggling of the yellow metal from the Middle East is a routine affair. What makes this seizure, worth Rs 15 crore, cling on to the headlines is that the gold was found in diplomatic cargo, which enjoys immunity from routine Customs examination. The players behind the racket and their alleged links with senior government officials have also added to the interest around the episode.