Kerala man held for smuggling 400 luxury cars

ToInterview

Editor

posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

30
views

HYDERABAD: Immigration officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International airport on Sunday detained a man from Kerala, wanted by the Dir..

HYDERABAD: Immigration officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International airport on Sunday detained a man from Kerala, wanted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for the last 10 years in connection with smuggling of luxury cars. A police team from Kerala arrived and took him to his native state.
According to DRI sources, Alex C Joseph alias Aby John, a native of Kerala was wanted for the past 10 years. The accused was involved in smuggling of as many as 400 luxury cars. Joseph was about to board a flight to Dubai when immigration officials detained him. The DRI had booked cases against him in 1999-2000 after which he absconded. A lookout circular and detention order for Alex Joseph under Conservation Of Foreign Exchange And Prevention Of Smuggling Activities Act was passed in 2000. Joseph used to smuggle highend luxury cars using passports of Indians abroad using the 'Transfer of Resident' facility provided to NRIs who can bring their used cars, officials said. During investigations, the DRI found most postal addresses given by the importee were fake.

Since the cars were being brought through the Transfer of Resident route, the customs duty was very less and they were later sold for between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 1.25 crore. Joseph had allegedly smuggled the cars under different names Rs 500 crore.