Operation Numkhor: One more person arrested for smuggling vehicles

Kochi: Kochi customs (preventive) arrested one more person in connection with Operation Numkhor, the investigation on smuggling of vehicles from Bhutan and Nepal.

According to customs, during the course of investigation, it was revealed that a man identified as Yash, 23, of Jaipur, actively colluded with two other accused who were earlier arrested by customs. The accused allegedly colluded with Biswadip Das and Zain Marva in the smuggling and registering of Bhutan-origin vehicles in India.

Customs said Yash facilitated sale of the said smuggled vehicles to interested customers through social media platforms, acting as a middleman between seller and customer. Investigation further revealed that he is also the registered owner of more than two such smuggled vehicles.

Yash was arrested on Wednesday under the provisions of Customs Act 1962, for his active involvement in smuggling of SUV vehicles from Bhutan to India. He is the seventh person arrested in Operation Numkhor from across four states, customs said.

Earlier, Biswadip Das, kingpin of this smuggling operation, Zain Marva, partner of M/s Roadway Cars, Kozhikode, Deepak Potawary, DTO, Bongaigaon, Assam, and four other persons were arrested for their active involvement in smuggling and fake registration of smuggled vehicles.

“Details and findings of the investigation will be forwarded to agencies concerned for necessary action and coordination. Further investigation is in progress,” customs sources said. Op Numkhor unravelled a huge smuggling racket, with customs probe exposing that several such vehicles were in use in the state, including by celebrities.