The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently carried out extensive raids across Kerala amid an investigation into an alleged luxury car smuggling operation involving vehicles imported from Bhutan. Multiple high-profile properties, including those belonging to actors Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, were searched by officials.
The probe ties into earlier actions by customs under Operation Numkoor, which flagged dozens of high-end vehicles suspected of being smuggled and illegally registered. Authorities believe a sophisticated network is behind the scheme, using fraudulent documentation and shell registrations to move luxury cars across state borders.
At the core of the investigation are potential violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), including unauthorized foreign exchange dealings and possible hawala transactions. Authorities suspect that vehicles were being imported, registered under false pretenses, and then sold domestically at below-market prices.
During the raid operations, properties in several districts were targeted. While vehicles were confiscated in certain instances, in other cases the searches did not yield immediate seizures. Some of those involved have challenged the actions in court, seeking relief or the return of impounded assets.
The matter has drawn significant public attention, partly due to the involvement of prominent personalities and the scale of the allegations. The ongoing investigation is expected to trace financial trails, identify intermediaries, and examine how these imports bypassed regulatory controls.
