Delhi Police Busts Major Illegal Tobacco Trade Operation, Arrests Four

Significant Crackdown on Illegal Tobacco Trade

In a significant operation against illegal tobacco trade in North-East Delhi, local police apprehended four individuals and confiscated over 2,82,640 banned imported cigarettes valued at more than ₹1 crore. This operation unfolded in two phases. Initially, authorities seized 12,640 imported cigarettes from three suspects in Karawal Nagar, followed by a raid at a warehouse in the Budhpur Industrial Area, where they recovered approximately 2.70 lakh cigarettes of various brands. The alleged supplier was later arrested.

The operation commenced on August 4, following a tip-off regarding a shipment of banned imported cigarettes arriving in Karawal Nagar. Officers set up a sting operation in Shiv Vihar, where three individuals arrived on a motorcycle carrying bags, waiting for customers.

Details of the Arrests

A senior police official stated that when no customers appeared and the suspects attempted to leave, they were intercepted by the police. The arrested individuals were identified as Ankit (35), Vishal (28), and Rahul (36), all residents of Karawal Nagar. During the search, authorities discovered 79 cartons containing 12,640 imported cigarettes manufactured in Indonesia. The police noted that the cigarette packets lacked mandatory health warnings as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), rendering their sale illegal in India. The motorcycle used for transporting the cigarettes was also seized. Based on this recovery, an FIR was filed at the Karawal Nagar police station under relevant sections of COTPA.

During interrogation, the arrested individuals revealed the identity of their supplier. Following these leads, the investigation team located and arrested the alleged supplier, Neeraj Kapoor (55), from Delhi on Wednesday.

Continued Investigation

In the raid at the Budhpur Industrial Area warehouse, authorities recovered nearly 2.70 lakh additional banned imported cigarettes. With this latest seizure, the total number of confiscated cigarettes in this case has reached 2,82,640, valued at over ₹1 crore. Police reported that Rahul has a prior record involving theft and robbery, while the other three suspects have no criminal history. Ongoing investigations aim to trace the source of the cigarettes, examine financial transactions, and identify other individuals involved in the illegal supply network.