Kochi: The Kochi Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Wednesday launched simultaneous raids under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged smuggling of high-end pre-owned luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange transactions linked to them.

The searches covered the residences and establishments of film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amith Chackalackal, as well as those of certain vehicle owners, automobile workshops, and dealers in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.

According to an official release from ED, the operation was launched based on inputs exposing a syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury cars—including Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Defender, and Maserati models—brought into India through Indo-Bhutan and Nepal routes. Preliminary findings revealed that a Coimbatore-based network allegedly used forged documents purporting to be from the Indian Army, US Embassy, and Ministry of External Affairs, along with fraudulent RTO registrations in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and other states. The vehicles were later sold to high-net-worth individuals, including film personalities, at undervalued prices, the agency said.

The ED stated that it initiated proceedings after finding prima facie violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA, involving unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments through hawala channels. Investigators are now working to trace the money trail, beneficiary network, and movement of foreign exchange linked to the racket.

The ED’s action follows a major state-wide operation by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, since September 23, during which over 30 locations—including the homes of prominent film actors—were searched. Codenamed “Operation Numkhor” (meaning vehicle in Bhutanese), it led to the seizure of 39 high-value pre-owned cars, suspected to have been smuggled from Bhutan over recent years.

The Customs probe had flagged 150–200 vehicles with irregularities in the national transport database, allegedly linked to the same Coimbatore racket now under ED scrutiny. Multiple vehicles belonging to Dulquer Salmaan and Amith Chackalackal were among those seized. While officials also visited Prithviraj’s residence in Kochi, no vehicle was seized from there.