Operation Numkhor: Customs Raids Dulquer Salmaan & Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Homes Over Illegal Vehicle Imports
Kerala woke up to a storm on Tuesday as the Customs Preventive wing launched state-wide raids under the codename Operation Numkhor, targeting the alleged illegal import of premium vehicles from Bhutan. The high-profile crackdown stretched across Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and other districts, sending shockwaves through the state — especially as the residences of Malayalam superstars Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran came under scrutiny.
What is Operation Numkhor?
In the Bhutanese language, Numkhor means "vehicle." The name is fitting, as the investigation revolves around luxury cars smuggled from Bhutan into India, allegedly through fake registrations to evade hefty taxes.
According to Customs sources, over 100 vehicles, including Land Cruisers, Land Rovers, and Prados, may have been illegally imported and re-registered in India. These vehicles, many of them abandoned by the Bhutanese army, were reportedly registered with fake Himachal Pradesh numbers (HP-52) and later sold in Kerala at up to four times their original price.
Raids on Film Stars’ Residences
The most sensational development came when officials confirmed raids at the homes of Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Kochi. Officers stated that the documents of their vehicles are under examination. As part of the same operation, actor Amit Chakkalakkal’s vehicles also came under the scanner.
Customs officials have already seized two of Dulquer’s cars, asking him to produce documents for verification. Sources suggest that more vehicles linked to celebrities, industrialists, and tech professionals could face seizure if paperwork does not match.
Showrooms, Private Homes, and Seizures
As part of Tuesday’s crackdown, raids were carried out at 30 locations, including four automobile showrooms and three private residences in Kozhikode and Malappuram. In total, 11 vehicles were seized and shifted to the Customs office at Karipur airport.
Officials revealed that these cars were being re-registered illegally with Kerala (KL) numbers, despite laws in India prohibiting the import of second-hand vehicles.
No Statements Yet from Dulquer & Prithviraj
So far, both actors have maintained silence, neither issuing statements nor addressing the media about the raids. Meanwhile, the Customs Commissioner has announced that he will brief the press soon to share further details of the ongoing operation.
The Bigger Picture
Operation Numkhor is being seen as one of the largest crackdowns on vehicle smuggling in Kerala’s history, with investigators warning that those unable to prove ownership with proper documents could face seizures and punitive legal action.
The involvement of leading stars like Dulquer and Prithviraj has only intensified public attention. Ironically, both actors are riding the peak of their careers this year — with Prithviraj’s L2 Empuraan and Dulquer’s Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra smashing box office records. Now, their names are trending for a very different reason.
✨ Final Take: What began as a quiet investigation into suspicious imports has now erupted into a headline-grabbing raid that mixes cinema, luxury cars, and alleged tax evasion. With more than a hundred vehicles under the radar, Operation Numkhor could reshape Kerala’s luxury car scene — and its star power is only adding to the drama.
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