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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a massive crackdown in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, conducting raids at 17 locations in both states on Wednesday morning. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, centering on the illegal import and smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles and unaccounted foreign currency transfers via hawala networks.

According to sources, the ED uncovered a syndicate that smuggled luxury vehicles such as Land Cruisers, Defenders, and Maseratis into India using routes through Nepal and Bhutan. Investigators have traced the syndicate’s operations back to a hub in Coimbatore.

Officials report that the accused used falsified documentation—allegedly issued under the names of the Indian Army, US Embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs—to obtain fraudulent vehicle registrations at RTOs in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. These luxury cars were then sold at below-market prices to influential buyers, including celebrities and film industry personalities.

As part of this crackdown, ED teams also searched the residences of popular film stars such as Prithviraj, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amith Chakkalakal, along with several others linked to the alleged syndicate. Raids were carried out in major cities, including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Mallapuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.

Authorities state that the main focus of the investigation now is to trace the suspected money laundering trail, uncover the full network of beneficiaries, and follow the flow of foreign currency transactions. This ED operation is reported to be the largest ever in South India related to the smuggling of luxury vehicles and FEMA violations.