Enforcement agencies have traditionally viewed gold smuggling as a non-violent crime. However, as it happened in Mumbai decades ago, gold smuggling appears to have spawned a violent mafia in Kerala. Mr. Behera had reportedly told the NIA that some of the groups had links with extremist outfits. He had also identified at least one set of persons who recruited women as carriers for gold smugglers and hawala networks. In May 2019, the Meppayur police in Kozhikode Rural dismantled a similar gang that preyed on gold smugglers and hawala agents.

Source: The Hindu July 23, 2020 13:07 UTC