Five persons allegedly involved in the abduction of a gold smuggling gangster from near Thiruvananthapuram International Airport a few days ago surrendered at the Vanchiyoor police station on Saturday.

Police identified the accused as Hakkim, 30, Shafeek, 39, Syed Abdul Salam, 35, Nishad, 33, and Maheen, 32, all of Vallakadavu. They were arrested in connection with the abduction of Umar, a native of Thirunelveli, in the early hours of August 14, soon after his arrival from Singapore.

According to police, the incident is suspected to be linked to a feud between rival gold smugglers. The group had allegedly received information about an attempt by Umar and an accomplice to smuggle gold from Singapore. While the accomplice, a local of Kanyakumari, carried the gold, Umar was supposed to take the smuggled gold to an alleged mastermind based in Melepalayam, Thirunelveli.

However, the plan was thwarted by the airport’s customs department, which discovered the presence of undeclared gold and issued a payment demand to release the goods.

The gang that had kidnapped Umar while he was travelling in an autorickshaw abandoned him near the Overbridge after realising that he did not have the gold. Umar was arrested along with his accomplice the next day when they returned to the airport to collect the gold.