Kerala Customs has arrested five individuals from West Bengal and Assam for smuggling high-end used cars from Bhutan into India without paying duties, using forged documents for illegal registration. The operation, part of the ongoing “Operation Numkhor,” uncovered a network that registered around 460 such vehicles across northeastern states.
Details of the Arrests
The suspects include Biswadip Das (35) from Jaigaon, West Bengal—an IT firm employee and alleged mastermind arrested on February 22 near the India-Bhutan border—and Dipak Patowary (57), the District Transport Officer (DTO) of Bongaigaon, Assam. Others arrested are Ayub Ali, MD Mostafa Ahmed (35), and Jalal Mandal (31), all from Assam districts. Customs conducted raids with local police assistance, and plans to seek court custody for deeper probe.
Scope of the Smuggling Network
Vehicles, including foreign-made SUVs and previously exported Indian cars, were smuggled across the porous Indo-Bhutan border, then registered fraudulently in states like Assam. A CAG report highlighted 15,849 vehicles with duplicate chassis and engine numbers registered in northeastern states, fueling the investigation. Prior phases seized dozens of luxury cars from Kerala buyers, including film actors like Dulquer Salmaan.
Broader Implications
This racket exploited tourist permits and forged NOCs, evading customs duties and linking to hawala for foreign exchange. Enforcement Directorate raids earlier uncovered ties to ex-Bhutan Army personnel and Coimbatore operatives. The arrests signal intensified crackdown on cross-border vehicle smuggling threatening revenue and security.
