The residences of Malayalam actors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Dulquer Salmaan in Kochi were raided by the Customs and Central Excise Department on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, as part of a state-wide crackdown named Operation Numkhor. The investigation focuses on allegations that luxury SUVs were being smuggled into Kerala from Bhutan without paying taxes. The operation also targeted several industrialists and used car dealerships across the state, The Hindu reported.
According to customs officials, pre-owned SUVs from Bhutan were allegedly brought into India illegally and sold to high-profile buyers, including film industry figures and businessmen. The raids are currently underway at around 30 locations across Kerala, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kuttippuram, and Thrissur, PTI reported.
The Customs Preventive wing explained that these vehicles were brought into India using forged documents and fake registrations, often registered in border states such as Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra before reaching Kerala. “The end users, mainly celebrities interested in such vehicles, may not be directly part of the racket, which involves dealers, agents, and middlemen,” a Customs source told The Indian Express.
What is Operation Numkhor?
The operation’s name, Numkhor, translates to ‘vehicle’ in Bhutanese. Customs officials said the raids follow reports of luxury vehicles being imported from Bhutan under the guise of second-hand cars, bypassing Indian tax regulations. They added that the law strictly prohibits the import of second-hand vehicles, and the investigation has uncovered 10 to 15 violations, including forged entries on the Parivahan website of the Motor Vehicles Department, The Hindu reported.
“These used vehicles are bought at throwaway prices, given a makeover in India, and then resold at premium prices. During the raids, we have even found 1991-made SUVs smuggled from Bhutan. However, our main focus is on newer vehicles imported within the last two years,” customs officials told The Indian Express.
During the raids, officials confirmed that vehicles lacking proper documentation would be seized, and owners failing to provide relevant papers would face punitive action. None of the vehicles involved are manufactured in India, making them clearly illegal imports.
Prithviraj and Dulquer have not yet commented on the customs raids at their residences.
What the investigation revealed
Customs officials described how vehicles are smuggled into India: either driven across the border or concealed in containers, with forged papers used to register them in states like Himachal Pradesh. Once in Kerala, these SUVs are sold to private buyers, often fetching high prices due to their premium nature, The Indian Express reported.
The investigation is not limited to celebrities. Multiple industrialists, used car dealers, and middlemen are also being investigated for their alleged roles in the smuggling operation.
Dulquer Salmaan recent projects
Dulquer Salmaan is currently enjoying the success of his superhero film, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, where he also made a cameo appearance. His next project is I Am Game. Prithviraj Sukumaran, who last directed the political drama Empuraan, will next be seen in the rural action film Vilayath Buddha, The Hindu reported.
Ongoing raids
Customs officials continue to search homes and commercial premises, aiming to uncover the full extent of the alleged illegal import network. Vehicles found without proper documentation will be confiscated, and owners may face strict legal action, PTI reported. With high-profile names linked to the case, the investigation is likely to keep both the film industry and the public closely watching its developments.