The Kochi Customs Preventive Commissionerate has seized two more Toyota Land Cruiser luxury SUVs as part of their crackdown on high-end vehicles illegally imported into the country. This brings the total number of luxury vehicles seized under ‘Operation Numkhor’ to 60. The recent seizures are the result of coordinated investigations conducted over several months across various locations outside Kerala.
Officials suspect that an organized interstate syndicate is behind the smuggling of premium foreign-made vehicles into India using forged documents to evade customs duty amounting to crores of rupees. The two seized SUVs were found to have fake Registration Certificates, created to hide their true origin and enable their registration without alerting enforcement agencies.
The probe, now expanded to neighboring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, has uncovered a sophisticated network specializing in producing forged documents for illegally imported luxury vehicles. Investigators believe that agents, aided by certain Motor Vehicles Department officials, facilitated registrations for these vehicles despite irregularities in their import documents.
Under the Customs Act, 1962, the Customs Preventive wing has initiated proceedings, hinting at a broader investigation in the days ahead. Prominent vehicle owners and individuals suspected of involvement in the syndicate are likely to be summoned for questioning as authorities trace the financial aspects of the illegal imports.
The investigation, known as ‘Operation Numkhor,’ has become one of the largest probes into luxury vehicle smuggling in the region, with most of the 60 seized vehicles being high-value foreign-manufactured cars. Customs officials estimate significant revenue losses to the Central government due to customs duty evasion and anticipate more seizures as the investigation progresses.
