During my teens, there were two words that were quite familiar in the ‘Gulf families’ of Kerala – ‘Kasargod embassy’ and ‘kuzhal’. While the first one was quite an unfamiliar premise, as we could not comprehend as to what this embassy was, the other word was nothing extraordinary, because that was part of the money flow in Kerala’s average Gulf families. 

That embassy was the virtual place where the people who lost their passports, mainly after the sponsors in the Gulf confiscated their documents, I about it heard much later. But ‘kuzhal’ was quite familiar to all, but in those days most people had no inclination about the economic implications of such shady activities, which are against the wider interest of the nation.

The ‘kuzhal’ equation was simple – you give the equivalent of Rs 900 or so to someone on the other side of the Arabian Sea where you work, and your people back home get Rs 1000 in hard currency. No bank commission, no waiting. It was all about instant money, that to a higher amount. The carrier would enter your household like a petty thief, hand over the money concealed somewhere in his dress, and then vanish into thin air.

For the carriers, it was all about easy money, not very huge though. Such money paid in the Gulf used to reach here in various forms, including gold. And slowly gold smuggling became the order of the day, and a bigger racket emerged, which now has the character of the underworld. There began the really dangerous game that was not like the small-time ‘kuzhal’, and the role of the carriers and operators changed drastically.

Jobless youths going to the Gulf frequently and coming back with gold has become quite commonplace. A return air ticket and some ‘pocket money’, often make them believe that they are doing something great, but often they fail to realise the dangers – both at the personal level and to the economy of the nation. 

Moreover, it has taken a violent turn now, with abduction, robbery and even murder, thus bringing to life what we had seen in the action-packed movies that often glorify such acts.

This time when I landed in Kerala, what I heard was the murder of a youth, allegedly associated with the gold smuggling racket, by the underworld gangs dominating the smuggling racket. 

There is not even a single day without the news of the customs nabbing smuggled gold in the airports, but the gangs are so strong that no one other than the carriers are nabbed. Moreover, when one smuggler is caught, at least ten escape without being caught.

But there is another hawk’s eye always after them, the robbers who want to grab the gold from them. Now, the police are after such highway robbers but it’s not easy to nab them, because they too are experts in the dirty game, with many clouts, including the political big shots.

Yes, it is not just a dangerous game in which the operators are often behind the screen and call the shot. It’s an equally dirty and gory game because robbery and murder are no great deal for the dons who play behind the scene.

With four international airports in the tiny state, smuggling has become an easy affair and they have the support of the high and the mighty. 

Naturally, the real players are never caught and they simply use the carriers as pawns, thus ensuring everything goes on unhindered, which in turn makes the ‘God’ own country’ the unofficial capital of smuggling. Ultimately the carriers become the victims, their life is spoiled in the name of getting easy money, and they end up in jail.

At times, even the psychedelic drugs are concealed in the luggage of the carriers who fly abroad and if caught their life would end then and there. Beware!

In the last few months how many such carriers perished is known to all and still many youths get lured to it, ironically though. Most of them think that life is all about easy money and a luxurious lifestyle. 

But they fail to understand the reality – no money is easy money. If at all someone shows you the way to the so-called easy money, it would definitely lead you to peril for sure. So, my dear boys, don’t chase easy money which would lead you to ultimate disaster and a darker life.

Lesson to keep in mind —  Don’t be a carrier, knowingly or unknowingly, no matter what.