Customs officials have seized 11 mobile phones and two pen drives from the former UAE Consul General’s baggage today. The mobile phones and pen drives were recovered during a check at Thiruvananthapuram airport. The bags of former UAE Consul General Jamal Al-Zaabi were inspected with the permission of the central government.
After being caught for smuggling gold through diplomatic baggage, the Consul General has not returned to the consulate.
According to reports, the bags were brought to the airport for transfer to the UAE through air cargo. The bags contained things from the flat where the former Consul General stayed. The search was conducted in the presence of the consulate officials. Even the entire inspection procedures were recorded on video by the officials.
In connection with the sensational Kerala gold smuggling case, the statement of an accused surfaced alleging that the Consul General of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram had knowledge about the smuggling activities. Last July, the alleged kingpin in the case KT Ramees alleged that Charge d’Affairs Rashid Khamis Al Sheimelli knew about this. He even gave a statement that “Consul General Jamal Al-Zaabi and Admin Attache Rashid had knowledge about this smuggling.