Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended Sidhiqul Akbar, one of the fugitives in the high-profile Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case, on June 2. The case involves the alleged smuggling of gold via diplomatic baggage in 2020.

Sidhiqul, a resident of Malappuram, had been evading arrest since 2020. Acting on a tip-off, the NIA intercepted him as he arrived in Kerala by flight and promptly took him into custody. After his initial three-day custody period with the NIA expired, he was produced before the NIA court and remanded to judicial custody on Thursday.

Identified as the 15th accused, Sidhiqul is believed to have played a crucial role in the racket that smuggled gold from the UAE to Thiruvananthapuram under the cover of diplomatic baggage. He was formally charged in December 2020.

Earlier, Ramzan Parancherry, another fugitive in the case, was arrested in February after arriving from the UAE. However, at least four other accused individuals remain at large as the investigation continues.