Thiruvananthapuram, March 5 (TIWN) Hours after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Central agencies, a statement given by the gold smuggling case prime accused -- Swapna Suresh to the Customs Department -- surfaced on Friday, which said 'Vijayan had a role in dollar smuggling'.

The statement says: "Her close connection with the Chief Minister and his principal secretary and a personal staff was also revealed by her. She has also stated with clarity about smuggling of foreign currency at the instance of the Chief Minister and the Speaker with the help of the Consulate. She has also clearly stated about the improper and illegal activities of three Ministers of the State cabinet and the Speaker. She has further stated about the involvement and the kickbacks received by high profile persons from various deals.    "She has stated that she is aware of all these transactions and was a witness to the same as she is well versed in the Arabic language and hence was forced to act as the translator between the above said persons and the persons of Middle East origin in all their crucial interactions. The role of the former principal secretary (M.Sivasankar)  in acting as the link between the high profile politicians of Kerala and the UAE Consulate officials as well as some others and in coordinating the illegal financial dealings under the cover of various activities and projects of the state government was also revealed by her," said the statement of the Customs which is before the high court.