As Kochi city was just about resuming its usual hubbub during the early hours of September 23, 2025, a band of men in formal wear exited their vehicles outside the residence of film actor Dulquer Salman at Elamkulam in Kochi.

Around the same time, similar scenes unfolded at multiple locations across the city in front of the houses of prominent movie stars, high-net-worth individuals, including industrialists, celebrities, and social media influencers.

Team visited the houses of actor Prithiviraj at Thevara and actor Amit Chakkalackal at Kaloor. All three locations, within a five-kilometre radius, became focal points of a sweeping crackdown that was rapidly gaining momentum.

It emerged that a Statewide operation codenamed “Numkhor,” meaning “vehicle” in the Bhutanese language, was under way. The target of the crackdown, which was carried out by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, was the high-value pre-owned luxury cars reportedly smuggled into Kerala from Bhutan. Lending muscle to the operation were the Anti-Terrorist Squad, the Motor Vehicles department, and the Kerala Police.

By the end of the day-long raids, the Customs had confiscated 37 premium vehicles. Among them were a Defender registered in the name of Dulquer and a Land Cruiser owned by Amit. Dulquer has since approached the Kerala High Court seeking the release of his vehicle, which, according to him, was a legally owned one.

150 to 200 vehicles

However, these vehicles, susp