In a major crackdown on the illicit cigarette trade in the national capital, Delhi Police seized 2.7 lakh counterfeit cigarette sticks during targeted raids in North Delhi. The operation led to the arrest of two individuals allegedly involved in the sale, storage, and distribution of fake cigarette products that mimicked several top national and international brands. The arrests highlight an expanding and lucrative black market that not only violates consumer rights but also causes massive revenue losses to manufacturers and the government.

The two accused have been identified as Ramjeet, also known as Vijay, a 33-year-old resident of Fatehpuri, and Ankit, 34, a resident of Lahori Gate. Both men were reportedly operating within the crowded markets of Old Delhi, where counterfeit goods often circulate through dense networks of suppliers and distributors. Police revealed that the seized cigarettes were high-quality imitations designed to pass off as legitimate products, posing a threat to consumer safety and undermining regulatory efforts.

The case unfolded after police received a tip-off about the circulation of fake cigarette packets in the Lahori Gate area. Acting on this intelligence, a team of officers conducted a raid at a shop believed to be central to the illegal distribution network. During the operation, police discovered large quantities of counterfeit cigarette sticks, carefully packaged to resemble popular brand-name products. Following the raid, a case was registered, and the suspects were taken into custody for further investigation.

Officials stated that the cigarettes were not only illegal but also lacked the mandatory health warnings, statutory labels, and pricing details required under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The absence of such warnings poses serious health risks, as counterfeit cigarettes are often made using unregulated and potentially harmful materials. Moreover, their unmonitored distribution bypasses government taxation channels, resulting in substantial revenue losses.

Police also said that the arrests are a key step in dismantling a broader, well-organized racket. Investigations are now focused on identifying the manufacturing units behind the counterfeit products as well as the larger supply chain spanning multiple states. Authorities suspect that the illegal network relies on small-scale units producing fake cigarettes in bulk, which are then distributed across Delhi’s markets through agents and retailers seeking high profit margins.

The trade of counterfeit tobacco products has long been a challenge for law enforcement agencies across India. In addition to evading taxes, counterfeit cigarette syndicates often overlap with other illegal operations, such as the smuggling of foreign cigarettes and the distribution of banned tobacco products. Earlier this year, Delhi Police had busted a similar operation in the South West district, exposing yet another layer of the counterfeit tobacco trade.

In that earlier operation, the Operations Cell of South West District uncovered a godown stocked with banned and illicit tobacco items. During the raids, the police seized nearly 94,000 packets of foreign-made cigarettes, many of which did not comply with India’s legal packaging requirements. Police arrested the godown owner, 22-year-old Parikshit, and another accused, PP Chengappa, a 40-year-old resident of Karnataka’s Kodagu district. Authorities said the racket was distributing cigarettes devoid of health warnings and maximum retail price labels, again in violation of COTPA norms.

These enforcement actions form part of a larger campaign launched by Delhi Police to curb the infiltration of illicit liquor and tobacco products into the Capital. Officials noted that counterfeit cigarette networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often involving interstate collaboration and new packaging technologies that make the products more difficult to distinguish from genuine ones.

The police also emphasized the broader implications of counterfeit tobacco sales. Illicit cigarettes are typically sold at lower prices, increasing access to tobacco for younger and vulnerable consumers. Furthermore, since counterfeit products bypass quality checks, they may contain unsafe levels of nicotine and other harmful additives. These factors collectively make the crackdown not just an issue of revenue protection but a public health priority as well.

Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into the latest case, focusing on uncovering upstream suppliers and manufacturers. Preliminary findings suggest that the counterfeit cigarettes may have originated from outside Delhi, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts between different state police departments and central agencies. Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage, phone records, and transport logs in an attempt to trace the movement of the seized goods.

As Delhi remains a major consumption and distribution hub, police expect more operations in the coming months as part of their ongoing campaign to eliminate illicit nicotine products from the market. The success of these crackdowns will depend not only on police interventions but also on consumer awareness, stricter enforcement of tobacco laws, and collaboration among states to disrupt the larger networks enabling the counterfeit trade.

The recent bust at Lahori Gate signals a determined effort by Delhi Police to combat the growing menace of fake cigarettes. By targeting both local distributors and regional suppliers, authorities hope to dismantle the intricate systems supporting illicit tobacco operations and safeguard the public from potentially dangerous counterfeit products circulating in the market.