Bhutan luxury vehicle smuggling: Kerala tightens checks on out-of-state registrations

Kochi: Customs investigations into vehicle smuggling from Bhutan as part of Operation Numkhor are intensifying. The Customs Preventive Commissioner has issued letters to the State Police Chief and the Excise Commissioner demanding strict checkings on inter-state registration vehicles running on state roads as well as those crossing borders. As a result, owners of vehicles brought in from other states without transferring registration to Kerala will face scrutiny.

Luxury SUVs will be targeted for increased inspections. Following recent customs raids, authorities have received information that such vehicles are being smuggled out of Kerala, prompting calls for tighter checks at border checkpoints.

So far, 39 vehicles have been seized in Customs Preventive raids. It is estimated that between 150 and 200 SUVs have been brought into Kerala from Bhutan. Authorities are stepping up inspections with assistance from other agencies to track down all such vehicles. Vehicles without proper documentation may be confiscated.

A vehicle registered in another state can be used in Kerala without paying state tax for up to one month. Since taxation authority lies with the respective states, if such vehicles remain in Kerala beyond one month, owners are liable to pay Kerala state tax. After tax payment, the vehicle can be used in Kerala without transferring registration for up to one year.

However, after one year, the vehicle must be registered in Kerala by showing a Kerala address, as per regulations. Owners of vehicles registered in other states must produce relevant documents before police and excise officials. Any suspicious cases will be handed over to the Customs investigation team.

Maheen Ansari says he was duped in vehicle purchase

Maheen Ansari, a resident of Moovattupuzha, was questioned by the Customs Preventive team in connection with the Bhutan vehicle smuggling case. He was served a summons on Thursday regarding a Land Cruiser seized from a garage at Kundannoor in Ernakulam. It was confirmed that he had brought the vehicle to the garage, which led to his questioning. Ansari stated that he bought the Land Cruiser after seeing an advertisement on Facebook Marketplace and suffered losses worth several lakhs.

Dealers claimed the vehicle had been used in Delhi for 15 years. The Aadhaar card provided by Ansari for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) was found to be forged. He has had the vehicle for about one and a half years. Upon inspection, suspicions arose as the vehicle was found not to be Indian. Attempts to contact the sellers were unsuccessful. Ansari confirmed that the seller’s details have been handed over to Customs.