Kerala Customs have reportedly seized ₹3.15 crore in cash smuggled from Karnataka hidden in welded steel compartments beneath the flooring of a Hyundai Creta car intercepted in Mananthavady, Wayanad.
Three men from Vadakara were arrested and have confessed that the cash was supplied by a handler named Salman Kandathil. The reported bust led to follow-up raids at five locations near Karipur and Vadakara as investigators work to dismantle the larger network behind the racket.
A video has gone viral on the internet showing the officials inspecting the car involved in the reported smuggling. Customs officials are cooperating with police and central agencies, and the seized currency will be handed to the Income Tax Department for further investigation.
Kerala Cash Smuggling Busted
The Kerala Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kozhikode Division, had been monitoring the movements of the vehicle for several months based on intelligence indicating frequent smuggling of contraband cash and goods from Bengaluru into Kerala.
Acting on this information, the joint operation by Customs, police, and central agencies intercepted the car in the early hours, uncovering 630 bundles of cash concealed in steel boxes welded beneath the car’s rubber flooring.
The operation led by Joint Commissioner Shashikant Sharma reflected intelligence reports that a gang regularly smuggled contraband and cash weekly from Karnataka to Kerala.
Three Men Arrested
The three men taken into custody from Vadakara revealed during interrogation that Salman Kandathil, also from Vadakara, was the supplier of the seized cash. Subsequent searches were conducted at five other strategic locations near Karipur and Vadakara as the investigation is still active.
The Customs Preventive Commissionerate confirmed that the seized currency will be turned over to the Income Tax Department to probe any further tax evasion or financial irregularities.
The officials highlighted the importance of such busts in dismantling networks involved in large-scale interstate cash smuggling and related financial crimes.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This successful crackdown highlights the critical role of intelligence-led enforcement in curbing illegal financial flows that threaten the economic and social fabric of our country.
Cash smuggling operations often fuel wider criminal activities and undermine governance and local economies. Society must stay vigilant and actively support law enforcement’s efforts by promoting transparency, accountability, and community cooperation.
