Kerala Customs Bust Major Luxury Car Smuggling Operation via Bhutan; Stars’ Vehicles Under Scrutiny
Kochi, Kerala – In a high-stakes crackdown on international smuggling, sleuths from the Customs Preventive Commissionerate conducted raids across multiple locations in Kerala, targeting high-end luxury vehicles illegally brought into India from Bhutan using forged documents, including falsified seals of the Indian Army and the US Embassy.
The massive operation, codenamed “Operation Numkhor”—Numkhor meaning “vehicle” in Bhutanese—saw simultaneous searches at approximately 30 locations across the state on Tuesday, including residences linked to prominent film actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amit Chakkalackal.
During these raids, authorities seized 36 luxury vehicles, confirmed T. Tiju, Commissioner of Customs Preventive, Kochi, during a press briefing.
Tiju revealed that these smuggled vehicles were not just luxury toys; they were often used in the illegal smuggling of gold and narcotics, and cases have been registered accordingly. “If they can smuggle cars, gold, and narcotics in this manner, there is no telling what else they could bring in. It is a serious threat to national and economic security,” he stressed.
Investigations Reveal Deeper Financial Crimes
The preliminary probe by the Customs Preventive team has uncovered additional illegalities, including income tax and GST evasion, as well as money laundering connected to the smuggled vehicles. Authorities are also investigating whether funds generated from these illegal activities were linked to terrorist operations, highlighting the national security dimension of the case.
The raids, executed in cities such as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Malappuram, were carried out with support from the Transport Commissionerate of Kerala, ATS, and state police.
Modus Operandi of the Smuggling Network
According to Commissioner Tiju, the smuggling gang used multiple tactics to bring high-end vehicles into India:
- Cars were imported in completely knocked-down (CKD) condition, inside shipping containers, or driven across the Bhutan border under the guise of tourist vehicles.
- After entering India, vehicles were registered in different parts of the country using expertly forged documents, often bearing the names, seals, and insignia of the Indian Army or foreign embassies, including the US Embassy.
- Fraudsters manipulated the Parivahan website, either through hacking or internal contacts, to display false registration dates and ownership records. For instance, a 2014-manufactured vehicle was shown online as being registered and in use since 2005.
- Many vehicles were transferred through illegal transactions, leaving no paper trail or financial trace, making it impossible to identify the original owners.
High-Profile Individuals Under Scrutiny
The Commissioner confirmed that the majority of vehicles traced were owned by high-net-worth individuals, including celebrities. While no vehicles linked to Prithviraj Sukumaran were seized, two vehicles connected to Dulquer Salmaan were identified.
Authorities plan to record statements and examine all relevant documents to determine whether these individuals knowingly or unknowingly purchased smuggled vehicles. Summons will be issued to ensure compliance.
Tiju emphasized that if vehicles were imported illegally, they would be seized regardless of current ownership, and owners aware of the illegality would face strict action.
Scope of the Operation
In Kerala alone, officials estimate 150–200 high-end smuggled vehicles, of which 36 were seized during Tuesday’s operations. The raids are expected to continue until all remaining vehicles are recovered. Many of these vehicles are registered in other states but operated under the names of unknown individuals, making them difficult to track and a persistent security threat.
Tiju hinted that due to the interstate nature of the operation, there is potential for a nationwide crackdown to ensure that illegally imported luxury vehicles are removed from circulation.
The operation underscores the sophistication and audacity of international smuggling networks and highlights the urgent need for coordinated enforcement across borders and states to safeguard both economic and national security.
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