By News18,Shreyanka Mazumdar

Copyright news18

Kochi has become a focal point in a nationwide customs crackdown as officials target an illegal luxury vehicle import racket. Among the locations raided are the residences of Malayalam film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran in Thevara and Dulquer Salmaan in Panampilly Nagar. The operation, codenamed Operation Numkoor, is investigating the smuggling of high-end vehicles from Bhutan, initially bought at low auction prices and resold at inflated rates.
Sources indicate that the scheme involved acquiring ex-Bhutan army vehicles, which were later registered in India using fake addresses to bypass taxes. Some vehicles reportedly ended up in the possession of celebrities and business magnates across India.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) first flagged the unusual imports, and details were shared with the Motor Vehicles Department. Inspections are currently underway at around 30 locations across Kerala, including vehicle dealerships in Malappuram and Kozhikode and the house of a businessman in Kalamassery.
Customs officials attempted to inspect Prithviraj’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram but found no vehicles on site. Meanwhile, the ongoing raids in Kochi are focused on verifying vehicle ownership and documentation linked to the smuggling network.
Operation Numkoor highlights the growing sophistication of illegal vehicle import rings. Luxury vehicles exempt from certain Bhutanese import rules were being discreetly shipped and registered in India as pre-owned, allowing operators to evade customs duties.
Officials say the investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected as the raids continue. Both Prithviraj and Dulquer Salmaan are cooperating with authorities, while the customs team continues to track the full network behind the smuggling operations.