Bhutan vehicle smuggling: Aide of the main mastermind arrested

KOCHI: The Customs Preventive Department arrested the aide of mastermind Biswadeep Das, the accused in the Bhutan vehicle smuggling. Jaipur native Yash was caught through 'Operation Numkhor'. With this, the number of people arrested reached seven. Customs said that he played a crucial role in the vehicle smuggling. Biswadeep was arrested on February 22. The information he provided paved the way for Yash's arrest.

Yash was based in Delhi and Jaipur. His responsibilities included locating vehicles, planning smuggling schemes, and coordinating border operations. Yash was also behind the vehicles smuggled into Kerala and introduced new clients to Biswadeep. Earlier this month, customs seized eight SUVs from different parts of Kerala. Zain Marwa, a partner of 'Roadway Cars' in Kozhikode, was arrested in the case. Many of the vehicles Biswadeep brought from Bhutan were sold to Roadway Cars through Yash.

Customs had arrested four people from Assam and one from West Bengal. Deepak Patowary, the District Transport Officer of Assam's Bongaigaon, was arrested with the help of Shillong Customs. Fake registration of vehicles in Lakshadweep was used to bring foreign-made luxury cars, lorries, and vehicles from Bhutan, evading taxes. The list of 200 vehicles smuggled to Kerala has been prepared by the Kochi Customs Preventive Commissionerate. It is suspected that multiple gangs are working behind the vehicle smuggling and fake registration. Customs identified two networks based in Coimbatore and Assam. There are also indications that Motor Vehicles Department officials helped these gangs to tweak data on the Parivahan website.