Kochi, Sep 27 (NationPress) In a notable turn of events, the Customs Department has reached out to the Kerala Police for assistance in locating vehicles and their owners involved in the expanding investigation of Operation Numkhor. Officials revealed that approximately 138 vehicles have already arrived in Kerala, highlighting the extensive nature of this illicit operation.

The Customs department recently conducted extensive raids at the residences of various Malayalam film stars as part of an inquiry into the smuggling of luxury vehicles.

Operation Numkhor, which has targeted homes, car dealerships, and other locations throughout the state, has raised significant concerns.

Authorities suspect that premium vehicles were being illegally imported into India from Bhutan with falsified documentation, subsequently registered locally to evade substantial import taxes and duties. Among the individuals whose homes were searched are renowned actors Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amith Chakkalackal.

The collaboration between the Customs and Police is anticipated to be crucial in tracing the vehicles, identifying their owners, and dismantling the network of intermediaries involved in these operations.

Customs officials indicated that they have acquired vital intelligence regarding intermediaries, with the testimony from Mahin Ansari of Malapurram serving as a critical pivot in the investigation.

Authorities confirmed that a group of middlemen based in Delhi is currently under scrutiny.

It was discovered that Ansari’s own luxury car, a Land Rover, was directly imported from Bhutan and fraudulently registered in Arunachal Pradesh.

He has been summoned for further questioning next Monday.

Additionally, his call logs and travel documents are under thorough investigation to establish further connections.

The findings indicate a larger scheme involving deceitful cross-border imports and registrations of luxury vehicles. Investigators believe that similar tactics may have been employed to smuggle several high-end cars into the country using false documentation.

In light of these developments, well-known actor Dulquer Salmaan has approached the Kerala High Court.

The petition is expected to be considered soon, potentially impacting aspects of the investigation concerning vehicle ownership and registration.

What started as a focused inquiry into suspicious vehicle movements has evolved into a high-stakes investigation spanning multiple states.

With inter-agency collaboration underway and even celebrities being implicated, authorities predict that the probe will intensify in the coming days.

As the police become more involved in the operations, attention is now on uncovering the identities of those who remain hidden and when they will be revealed.