ED Cracks Down on High-End Car Smuggling Syndicate in South India
The Enforcement Directorate raided 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, targeting an illegal syndicate involved in smuggling luxury vehicles and unauthorized foreign exchanges. The operation linked film stars and high-profile individuals to the network, which used fake documents and undervalued car sales.
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In a major crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed searches across 17 locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as part of an investigation into illegal luxury vehicle smuggling and unauthorized foreign exchange transactions.
The raids, carried out under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, targeted homes and businesses, including properties of prominent film stars such as Prithviraj, Dulquer Salman, and Amith Chackalacal. Additional targets were auto workshops, vehicle owners, and traders in various cities, including Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Coimbatore.
Officials revealed that the syndicate exploited India-Bhutan and India-Nepal routes to import cars like Land Cruiser and Maserati, utilizing forged documentation purportedly from prestigious institutions. The investigation aims to uncover the money trail and further foreign exchange violations.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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