Smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles: ED raids 17 places in Kerala, Tamil Nadu under FEMA

COIMBATORE: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in connection with the ongoing probe into alleged smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings, officials said.

The searches are under way based on inputs exposing a syndicate engaged in illegal import and registration of luxury cars such as Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati through India-Bhutan and India-Nepal routes.

The operation covered 17 premises, including residences and establishments of film stars like Prithviraj, Dulquer Salman and Amith Chackalacal, certain vehicle owners, auto workshops and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.

#WATCH | Chennai | The Enforcement Directorate’s Kochi Zonal Office is conducting search operations under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in connection with the ongoing probe into the smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles… pic.twitter.com/daQPZ9MwQJ

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025

The ED’s Kochi Zonal Office carried out these raids as the preliminary findings in the case reveal a Coimbatore-based network using forged documents (purporting to be from the Indian Army, US Embassy, and MEA) and fraudulent RTO registrations in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and other states, the officials privy to the development said. “Vehicles were later sold to HNI (High Net Worth) individuals, including film personalities, at undervalued prices,” said the officials.

The ED action was initiated as prima facie violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA were detected — involving unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments through hawala channels. Further investigation is under way to trace the money trail, beneficiary network, and foreign exchange movement. (ANI)