Noida Police Arrest Six with 10 Tonnes of Counterfeit Tobacco in Major Seizure

In a significant crackdown on illegal activities, the Noida Police on Tuesday apprehended six individuals linked to an inter-state trafficking network. The operation led to the seizure of 10 tonnes of counterfeit tobacco, cleverly concealed under sacks of potatoes in a truck. This illicit cargo, valued at approximately Rs 2 crore, was destined for sale in regions where tobacco sales are prohibited.

The collaborative effort involved the Crime Response Team and officials from the Sector 126 police station, culminating in the arrests on Monday. The seized counterfeit tobacco was packed in 138 sacks and was being transported alongside 16 sacks of potatoes to evade detection. Additionally, a car associated with the accused was impounded, and Rs 61,560 in cash was confiscated.

Among those arrested were Manoj Saroj, Ramesh Bhatti, Syed Zabi Ullah, Param, Shivam Jaiswal, and Zakir Hussain. Investigations revealed that these individuals procured the fake tobacco from a source in Delhi and intended to distribute it in states enforcing a tobacco ban. This operation allowed them to inflate the price of tobacco nearly threefold.

The police also uncovered that the accused were replicating the packaging of a known tobacco brand to sell their counterfeit product under its guise. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, with additional charges under the Copyright Act and the Trademark Act being applied.

This bust not only highlights the ongoing issue of counterfeit goods flooding markets but also underscores the lengths to which traffickers will go to profit from banned substances. The Noida Police's swift action has prevented a substantial quantity of illegal tobacco from reaching consumers and serves as a deterrent to similar operations.