KOCHI (Saturday, March 7, 2026) — The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi has made a major breakthrough in “Operation Numkhor,” arresting five individuals from West Bengal and Assam involved in a sophisticated cross-border car smuggling syndicate. Among those apprehended is a high-ranking government official from Assam, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of the racket.
The Arrests and the “Mastermind”
The arrests followed an extensive investigation spanning the northeastern states. The key figure in the operation is an IT professional from West Bengal.
- The Mastermind: Biswadip Das (35), an employee of a major IT firm based in Jaigaon (Jalpaiguri), was arrested near the India-Bhutan border on February 22. He is believed to be the primary architect of the forged documentation system.
- The Official: Dipak Patowary (57), the District Transport Officer (DTO) of Bongaigaon, Assam, was arrested for allegedly facilitating the illegal registration of smuggled vehicles using fraudulent papers.
- Accomplices: Three others from Assam—Ayub Ali, MD Mostafa Ahmed (35), and Jalal Mandal (31)—were also taken into custody for their roles in logistical support and distribution.
Modus Operandi: “Operation Numkhor”
The syndicate specialized in smuggling high-end used SUVs (such as Toyota Land Cruisers and Nissan Patrols) from Bhutan into India.
- Smuggling Method: Vehicles were either driven across the border disguised as tourist vehicles or brought in as “Completely Knocked Down” (CKD) units inside shipping containers to evade high import duties.
- Forged Registrations: Using the influence of transport officials like Patowary, the gang registered these vehicles in northeastern states using forged documents and duplicate chassis numbers.
- Sale to High-Profile Buyers: The cars were then sold to wealthy individuals across India, including prominent film actors in Kerala, under the guise of legally imported “embassy vehicles” or “diplomatic disposals.”
| Statistic | Details |
| Total Fraudulent Registrations | Approximately 460 vehicles identified so far by Assam Police. |
| Duplicate Identities | A CAG report found 15,849 vehicles registered with duplicate chassis/engine numbers in the Northeast. |
| Seizures in Kerala | Over 43 luxury vehicles seized to date, including those linked to actors Dulquer Salmaan and Amit Chakkalackal. |
Legal Consequences
All five accused have been brought to Kochi on transit warrants and remanded to judicial custody. The Customs department is now preparing to seek their custody for further interrogation to trace the full money trail, which is suspected to involve GST evasion and money laundering.
The investigation has revealed that some buyers paid as much as ₹14 lakh to ₹50 lakh for these vehicles, unaware that they were part of a smuggling ring. Some brokers, like New Delhi-based Rohit Bedi, have already been summoned for questioning in related cheating cases.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Kerala: Five held for smuggling high-end used cars from Bhutan; DTO among accused” (March 7, 2026)
- The Hindu: “Operation Numkhor: Customs arrest five including Assam transport official” (March 7, 2026)
- Hindustan Times: “Mastermind and DTO arrested in Bhutan car smuggling scam” (March 7, 2026)
- Onmanorama: “Kochi Customs intensify probe as five arrested in car smuggling racket” (March 7, 2026)
- India Today NE: “Transport officer Deepak Patowary arrested by Kochi Customs” (March 7, 2026)
Leave a Reply