Customs officials have launched raids at the Kochi residences of Mollywood stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Dulquer Salmaan as part of a major nationwide investigation into luxury vehicle smuggling through Bhutan.
According to Mathrubhumi, officials are currently searching Prithviraj’s home in Thevara and Dulquer’s house in Panampilly Nagar.
They also inspected Prithviraj’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram, but no suspicious vehicles were found there. In total, around 30 locations in Kochi, Kozhikode, and Malappuram are being combed through as part of the operation.
About Operation Numkoor
The crackdown, codenamed Operation Numkoor—a word that means “vehicle” in the Bhutanese language—aims to uncover a racket allegedly linked to tax evasion and illegal car imports.
The investigation began after authorities received intelligence that old vehicles decommissioned by the Bhutan Army were being sold at throwaway prices in Bhutan and then smuggled into India without paying customs duties.
According to reports, these cars—which were frequently in excellent condition—were shipped to Himachal Pradesh, where they were registered under false addresses before being resold to affluent buyers, such as movie stars and businessmen, for exorbitant prices.
Although the vehicles are lawfully up for auction in Bhutan, it is a clear violation of Indian law to import them into India and sell them without the required taxes and customs clearance.
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Customs authorities have prepared a list of individuals suspected of buying these vehicles, which allegedly includes several celebrities. The searches at the homes of Prithviraj and Dulquer are being carried out on the suspicion that they may have purchased such vehicles.
As the raids continue, more details are expected to be unveiled with time.
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