The Kochi Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out search operations on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, across 17 locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The raids were conducted under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged illegal import and sale of high-end pre-owned luxury vehicles and related foreign exchange violations.

 

According to officials, the searches form part of a larger crackdown on a suspected network involved in bringing luxury cars into India through unauthorised routes and evading customs duties. The agency is examining possible links between the importers and individuals who may have purchased these vehicles using foreign currency without proper documentation.

 

The ED’s operation follows a similar large-scale raid by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, on September 23, 2025. During that coordinated drive, Customs officials searched over 30 premises, including properties belonging to prominent individuals and film personalities.

 

Investigators had recovered 37 luxury cars — described as “high-value, second-hand vehicles” — that were allegedly smuggled into India from Bhutan over the past few years. Authorities later seized three additional vehicles in subsequent operations as part of the same investigation.