Five arrested for importing and circulating counterfeit cigarettes

The Kempegowda International Airport Police have busted an inter-State counterfeit cigarette racket operating through international routes and arrested five accused, including a father-son duo. Fake branded cigarettes worth approximately ₹50 lakh were seized during the operation.

This is the third case registered by the airport police in March this year.

The accused have been identified as Abdul Bashid, a resident of HRBR Layout, his son Mohammad Ashiq, and their associates- Mohammad Anwar Ibrahim, Mohammad Atar Ansari, and Ghulam Hussain- all natives of Chennai.

According to police, the counterfeit cigarettes were allegedly imported from countries including Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore at low prices and distributed across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Telangana for significant profits.

The operation was initiated following a complaint by N. Rajesh, a field executive, associated with ITC Ltd., regarding the circulation of counterfeit cigarettes under various brand names.

Acting on specific intelligence, the police apprehended the accused on Saturday morning and recovered around 20 boxes of counterfeit cigarettes at the airport.

A case has been registered for copyright infringement. Officials said that such counterfeit products not only result in financial losses to legitimate companies but also pose serious health risks to consumers.