Operation Numkhor: West Bengal’s Jaigaon identified as key hub in vehicle smuggling from Bhutan to Kerala

Kochi: Jaigaon in West Bengal, a town adjacent to the Bhutan border, has emerged as the central hub for the illegal smuggling of SUVs from Bhutan into India. The vehicles are routed through Phuentsholing, a Bhutanese town near the border, and illegally brought into India. Once across the border, these vehicles are registered using forged documents, converting them into Indian vehicles. Jaigaon is already a notorious centre for smuggling gold, narcotics and other contraband into India.

An investigation by the Kochi Customs Preventive Unit has revealed that an international vehicle smuggling network operating out of Coimbatore is funnelling vehicles into India via Jaigaon. The SUVs are fraudulently registered in Himachal Pradesh and Assam under second ownership, then moved to Karnataka and Kerala for resale after modification. Only a few of these vehicles are ever re-registered under a third or fourth owner. Smuggling agents based in Jaigaon and Phuentsholing assist in the cross-border transport in exchange for commission. Gold, electronic gadgets, liquor and fuel are also smuggled into India through this route.

Actor Amit Chakkalakkal remains under Customs scanner

Kochi: Actor Amit Chakkalakkal continues to remain under suspicion in the vehicle smuggling case involving SUVs brought from Bhutan to Kerala. The investigation team has reportedly found links between the actor and an international smuggling network. Amit had allegedly transported six SUVs to a garage, not for personal use, which raised doubts with officials. One of his vehilces has been seized for further probe.

He has been instructed to produce all documents related to these six vehicles within 10 days. So far, Amit has only been able to produce documents for the SUV he personally uses. He claims the remaining vehicles belong to various other people who approached him to refurbish the vehicles at a garage he is familiar with.

Customs summon buyer of seized land cruiser

Customs has issued a summons to Muvattupuzha native Mahin Ansari, who purchased the Toyota Land Cruiser that was recently seized from Kundannoor in Ernakulam. He has been directed to appear at the Kochi Customs Preventive Office. The seized vehicle, a 1999 model Land Cruiser, was reportedly registered in Arunachal Pradesh in 2012.