Operation Numkhor: 15,000 Luxury Cars Smuggled via Bhutan, Film Stars Under Radar

The Customs Department has made a major revelation regarding the smuggling of vehicles through Bhutan. For this purpose, the department launched a specialized operation named ‘Operation Numkhor’. Through this operation, it has been revealed that more than 15,000 vehicles have been illegally registered in India. It's noteworthy that ‘Numkhor’ means vehicle in the Bhutanese language. These vehicles were brought into India without paying any tax or customs duty.

Scale of Smuggling and Financial Loss

This illegal activity has caused a loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to the government exchequer. Initially, the Customs Department started an investigation into only 35-40 luxury cars in Kerala. However, as the investigation progressed and more layers unfolded, the total number of such vehicles reached a staggering 15,849.

Celebrities and Regional Impact

Names of several celebrities and film stars are also emerging in this case, who allegedly purchased these vehicles by flouting established rules. Almost all vehicles in the North-Eastern states bordering Bhutan were found to be registered fraudulently.

While several high-profile individuals are under the radar, the specific names of the film stars involved have not been officially disclosed yet.

Modus Operandi and Digital Audit

This massive discrepancy came to light during a comprehensive digital audit of the ‘National Vehicle Registry’. The investigation revealed that many vehicles were registered on the basis of fake ‘disposal certificates’ by falsely presenting them as old vehicles sold by the army. For certain high-end expensive cars, forged documents of foreign embassies or the Ministry of External Affairs were prepared to evade heavy customs duties.

High-Quality Forgery and Official Cooperation

Upon detailed examination by the Customs Department, it was discovered that the documents were high-quality forgeries that closely resembled original papers. To curb the smuggling of luxury cars and tax evasion from Bhutan to India, the 7th meeting of India-Bhutan Customs officials has commenced in Munnar, Kerala. The meeting will focus on strategies to intercept smuggled SUVs and luxury vehicles and implement stringent security measures at the borders.