Not ruling out a terror funding angle

MUMBAI A courier consignment of cash, gold and diamond jewellery, estimated to be worth Rs2 billion was seized here late on Monday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Income- Tax Department, an official said.

It is being billed as the biggest operation of its kind and the sources and destinations of the consignment are being probed.

Income-Tax Director General Swatantra Kumar told reporters on Tuesday morning that the consignment, intercepted near the busy Mumbai Central terminus around 9:30pm on Monday, was bound from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and other destinations by the Gujarat Mail train.

It was brought in four trucks carrying around 150 bags chock-full with cash and jewellery, stumping the investigators who suspect a terror angle, a top I-T official requesting anonymity said on Tuesday.

At least 47 people, including personal couriers, locally known as ‘angadiyas’, were detained and 20 were let off after initial questioning by the two agencies on Tuesday.

The operation was carried out following a tip-off received by the NIA at least a week ago.

NIA roped in the I-T Department for help as a huge amount of cash was involved.

Not ruling out a terror funding angle, at least a dozen of those detained are being questioned separately by the NIA.

Counting of the cash and valuation of the jewellery is currently on at the I-T headquarters in Mumbai and the true value of the consignment is expected to be known only within another day or so, the official said.

Swatantra Kumar, while declining to peg a value to the seizure, said that a team of officials is busy counting the seized cash and ascertaining the value of the jewellery which is expected to be known by Wednesday.

Replying to a query on whether a terror angle was suspected, Swatantra Kumar said that whatever is the outcome of the I-T probe, it will be shared with NIA.

Philippa Mannagh, a new resident in Onerahi, said she was impressed with the passion of people living in the community and wanted to bring all the vibrant parts together in one place. And what better place than online and on Facebook.

The Onerahi Community Facebook page has been operating for two months now and is gaining momentum with Onerahi police using the page as a place to help fight crime.

"I kept coming across people with a passion for Onerahi and thought a Facebook page would be great. It's developed faster than I thought," Mrs Mannagh said. "Now there is a real awareness of community and safety. People are sending photos and sharing events - it's awesome. We are getting thousands of hits every week."

Local police constable Aaron Furze has also tapped into the online community in a bid to solve a spate of burglaries in the area.

In a post on the Onerahi Facebook page, Mr Furze said jewellery seemed to be the main item targeted in recent burglaries. Over a two-week period he estimated around 10 home burglaries, particularly in the Ross and Church Sts and Raurimu areas. He advised those following the page to photograph jewellery and keep a description. He also asked people to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and report it to police.

Mr Furze was working on establishing an Onerahi Police Facebook page.

Earlier this year the most northern police officer in New Zealand Senior Constable Tracey Knowler set up the first Facebook page in the Northland police district and has found it a great tool.

"Certainly the Far North community has thrown themselves into the Facebook option as a way of communicating with me," she said. "When it comes to local knowledge and finger on the pulse, local people are my greatest asset."
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!