Operation Numkhor: Customs seizes two more SUVs from Karnataka; total vehicles seized rises to 60

Kochi: Customs preventive commissionerate at Kochi has seized two more Toyota Land Cruisers as part of Operation Numkhor, taking total number of vehicles seized under the operation to 60.Latest seizures were made after the vehicles were traced to locations in Karnataka. The vehicles were found to be fitted with fake registration certificates, allegedly in an attempt to legitimise their origin and evade detection.Seizures are part of a wider investigation into an interstate syndicate allegedly involved in forged documentation and misdeclaration of vehicle origin. Customs officials said further proceedings are being initiated under Customs Act, 1962.As per sources, customs investigators suspect that a syndicate used forged registration records and fabricated documents to legitimise luxury SUVs allegedly smuggled into the country through Bhutan and Nepal borders while evading customs duty. Vehicles were allegedly transferred through multiple registered owners and benami holders to conceal their origin.Following intelligence that suspected vehicles were moved out of Kerala after enforcement under Operation Numkhor, customs teams searched neighbouring states and seized two SUVs from Karnataka.

So far, seven persons have been arrested as part of the operation. Investigators are examining registration, insurance and financial records, while probing fake document networks and interstate movement channels.Last week, customs officers questioned actor Dulquer Salmaan in connection with a probe into the alleged luxury SUV smuggling racket. Four luxury SUVs linked to the actor were earlier seized by customs.