The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttarakhand Police uncovered a major illicit trade operation involving the sale of fake branded cigarettes. The bust led to the seizure of 22,100 packs of counterfeit Gold Flake and other cigarette brands from a warehouse in Dehradun.
Acting on a tip from the manager of Lancer Network — a distribution partner of ITC Ltd. — the STF raided a godown near Darshini Gate, close to the Gurdwara. The operation, executed under the leadership of DySP Ankush Mishra, was conducted in coordination with local police and company representatives.
Bogus Branding and Massive Tax Loss Uncovered
During the search, investigators discovered cigarette packs illegally bearing logos, barcodes, and health warnings forged to mimic authentic Gold Flake packaging. Initial investigation revealed that the syndicate was distributing these fake cigarettes without required licenses or tax payments, causing significant revenue loss to the state.
The main suspect, Nishant Traders, was found to be involved in sourcing the counterfeit cigarettes from networks based in Muzaffarnagar and Delhi, and then distributing them to wholesalers and retailers in Uttarakhand. Transactions were done entirely in cash, enabling the perpetrators to evade GST and other statutory taxes. Authorities suspect this racket has defrauded the exchequer of several lakhs of rupees.
The STF noted that these fake products pose serious health risks due to the unknown and unregulated materials used in their production.
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Organised Crime Ring Under Investigation
The STF stated that the counterfeit cigarette racket may have links to interstate or international criminal networks. More raids are being planned, and forensic investigations are underway to trace the origin and production sites of the fake goods.
The recovered inventory has been sealed. Charges under copyright infringement and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been registered against the accused.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change