In Kochi, the Kerala Customs Department is ramping up its fight against a major luxury car smuggling ring. They’ve asked local police for help to track down 138 vehicles and their owners as part of Operation Numkhor. Officials say these cars have already made their way into Kerala, highlighting just how big this racket really is.
The probe kicked off with surprise raids on the homes of popular Malayalam film stars, including Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amith Chakkalackal. Customs teams also hit car showrooms and other spots across the state. The goal? Uncover how high-end vehicles sneaked into India from Bhutan using fake papers to dodge steep import duties and taxes.
Now, with police on board, authorities aim to trace every vehicle, nail down the owners, and break up the network of middlemen pulling the strings. A big break came from Mahin Ansari, a key figure from Malappuram. His own Land Rover got imported straight from Bhutan and falsely registered in Arunachal Pradesh to cover tracks. Ansari faces more questioning next Monday, and investigators are digging into his call logs and travel records for deeper connections.
Spotlight’s also on a crew of Delhi-based middlemen suspected of orchestrating the scheme. This isn’t just one-off smuggling—experts think it’s a widespread pattern of bogus cross-border imports for luxury cars flooding the market.
Adding to the drama, actor Dulquer Salmaan has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court. It could hit the docket soon and might shake up parts of the investigation tied to car ownership and registrations.
What started as a routine check on shady vehicle movements has blown into a blockbuster case spanning states. With stars in the mix and agencies teaming up, expect the luxury car smuggling probe to heat up even more. Everyone’s watching to see if police nab those dodging the spotlight.
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