The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, seized two more SUVs in connection with Operation Numkhor — a nationwide crackdown on the large-scale smuggling of premium second-hand vehicles through Bhutan and forged registration rackets involving Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officials — from Karnataka, taking the total number of vehicles seized so far to 60.
Two Toyota Land Cruisers were reportedly seized from Bengaluru. The vehicles were found to have fake registration certificates, indicating an attempt to legitimise the vehicles’ origin and evade detection. The seizures form part of the investigation into a syndicate operating across State borders, which is involved in forgery of documents and misdeclaration of vehicle origins, according to Customs officials.
Among the vehicles seized under the operation were those owned by actors Dulquer Salmaan and Amit Chakkalackal. Earlier this month, Customs had questioned Mr. Salmaan in connection with the seizure of four vehicles, including three under his ownership and another under a different ownership but reportedly retained by the actor. Customs are likely to summon him for another round of questioning after reportedly identifying more such vehicles in his possession.
In May, Customs seized eight SUVs from across Kerala. Earlier this year, Customs arrested five suspects -- four from Assam and one from West Bengal. Among those taken into custody, with the support of Shillong Customs, was Dipak Patowary, District Transport Officer, Bongaigaon, Assam.
In a related development, Bongaigaon Police also arrested seven persons, including Mr. Patowary and the Joint District Transport Officer, for their alleged involvement in registering 464 vehicles using forged documents at the Bongaigaon RTO after fraudulently showing that most of the vehicles were originally registered in Lakshadweep. These included foreign-made luxury cars and lorries, as well as Indian-made vehicles exported abroad and smuggled back into the country through Bhutan without payment of Customs duty.
The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, has drawn up a potential list of 200 smuggled vehicles across Kerala. Multiple rackets are suspected to be involved in smuggling vehicles and securing illegal registrations using forged documents. Customs has so far identified two major networks—one based in Coimbatore and another in Assam. MVD officials are alleged to have colluded with these rackets to tamper with the Parivahan website database.
Published - July 08, 2026 04:24 pm IST