Minister involved in gold smuggling at airport: Cong

VASCO

Congress leader Capt Viriato Fernandes on Sunday evening claimed that 5 kgs gold was being smuggled at Dabolim International Airport on Saturday but was thwarted by Customs and two persons were taken into custody.

Fernandes speaking to reporters also alleged that a Goan Cabinet Minister and his staff was involved in the incident and demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant immediately sack the minister and arrest him. 

" Congress had made a major expose two months ago of a major gold smuggling racket at Dabolim Airport while also stating that a Goan minister and his staff were involved in this racket. We had said that the entire racket is controlled from the Minister's office and after the gold is got out of the airport, it is taken by the Minister's private Creta car. We had given all the proofs to the DRI and other central agencies," said Fernandes.

" We have now got information that a similar incident occured at Dabolim Airport on Saturday and 5 kgs of gold was being smuggled through the Qatar Airways flight arrives here from Doha early morning but was caught by the Customs who have taken two persons, one passenger and one courier person who is in direct touch with the minister." 

"We also got information that the Customs raided the OSD of the minister who fled and whose family has gone underground. We are warning CM Pramod Sawant not to hush this case because we have got all the details. In case the government hushes up this case, we will expose the scam totally and reveal all the names which we have not done until now only because the investigation should not be hampered.  The Chief minister is very well aware of this racket and also the minister involved in this racket . 

"While the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made assurance of bringing back black money, we have a minister who is involved in gold smuggling and we want to see if Sawant follows the words of the PM and sacks the minister to carry out a fair investigation," said Fernandes. 

"We have given all the details of the racket to the DRI including passport details, visa and even ticket details. This has also reached the office of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah . We have got information that around 5 kgs Gold was being smuggled but were caught by the Custom department who took two people in custody. We have information that the ministers staff was involved in pressurising the Customs and the Minister who was in Mumbai immediately flew back to Goa . The CM must immediately act and investigate the incident and drop the minister immediately and arrest him " said Fernandes.