Alert GST officials in Haryana’s Nuh district foiled a massive counterfeit operation, confiscating a truck loaded with 86,000 bogus Gold Flake cigarettes worth about 50 lakh rupees. The February 6 checkpoint stop at Bichhor uncovered a scheme skirting all regulations.
Hidden in the vehicle’s compartments were packets devoid of legal papers— no bills, no transit docs. Suspicions led to ITC, whose official Priyojit Chatterjee swiftly denounced the fakes, filing for FIR over trademark violations.
Gold Flake, a protected brand, falls victim to such scams that illegally produce and distribute knockoffs, flouting tobacco, trade, and copyright laws. Police at Bichhor invoked multiple statutes in the Monday FIR against unnamed offenders.
Linked to an Andhra-based transporter with offices in Guntur and Vijayawada, the truck’s ownership is being authenticated. SI Subhash credited GST’s initiative and the company’s cooperation for the case launch.
DSP Rana detailed the multifaceted inquiry: origin tracking, participant identification, driver’s role. ‘Comprehensive probe underway; action imminent,’ he affirmed.
This seizure spotlights the shadowy world of fake cigarettes, costing crores in duties while flooding markets with hazardous products. It bolsters efforts to safeguard revenue, brands, and public wellness, with authorities geared for more such wins.