ED Cracks Down on Luxury Car Smuggling in Celebrity-Linked Operation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its crackdown on luxury car smuggling operations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, conducting a series of raids at 17 locations. Among the locations searched were the residences of prominent Malayalam actors Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as part of an investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

Code-named "Operation Numkhor," the raids aim to dismantle a network smuggling luxury vehicles from Bhutan and Nepal using forged documents and fraudulent registrations. These actions follow a prior customs enquiry involving Dulquer Salmaan, and reflect broader efforts to address violations of foreign exchange and customs regulations.

The ED has exposed a Coimbatore-based network accused of smuggling vehicles including Land Cruisers and Maseratis, employing falsified documents allegedly from the Indian Army and other official entities. The illegally imported vehicles were often registered in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh before being sold to affluent buyers at reduced prices.

The operation has already led to the seizure of Dulquer's Land Rover Defender, suspected of having been illicitly registered and involved in tax evasion. The investigation continues to probe digital records and payment trails to unravel key players within the smuggling network. The Kerala High Court has permitted Dulquer to file for provisional release of his vehicle, directing customs to respond within a week.

(With inputs from agencies.)