Bhutan Vehicle Smuggling: Customs Conduct Raid At Dulquer Salmaan & Prithviraj’s Homes

In a major crackdown on illegal vehicle imports, customs and central excise authorities have launched Operation Numkhor, targeting vehicles registered in Bhutan that were allegedly brought into India and sold after evading taxes.

 The customs team conducted raids at Dulquer Salmaan’s residence in Panampilly Nagar, Kochi, and at Prithviraj Sukumaran’s house in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, following leads connecting them to the investigation, reported Manorama News.

Authorities have reportedly prepared a list of buyers of such tax-evaded vehicles, and multiple locations across Kerala, with up to 30 identified spots currently being inspected. The operation reflects the government’s increasing focus on curbing cross-border tax evasion in the automobile sector.

In the Bhutanese language, Numkhor means “vehicle.” That word has now lent its name to a massive anti-smuggling drive, Operation Numkhor, currently underway across Kerala.

Here’s how the racket works:

SUVs discarded by the Bhutanese Army are auctioned off at low prices, often bought through middlemen. These vehicles are then smuggled into India, re-registered in Himachal Pradesh, and sold for huge profits. Some even find their way to Kerala, re-registered with local plates, and purchased by businessmen and film celebrities.

 The crackdown aims to dismantle the smuggling network that has turned discarded Bhutanese Army SUVs into a thriving underground trade.

While neither Dulquer Salmaan nor Prithviraj has made an official statement, the raids are being closely monitored by the public and media, given the involvement of high-profile personalities.