Noida police bust fake cigarette racket, seize 4,940 packs and 3 machines
Synopsis
Noida police cracked a cigarette counterfeiting ring where two men from Bulandshahr were filling empty Gold Flake and Capstan packs with loose tobacco and selling them to retailers as genuine branded products. With 4,940 empty packs, three industrial machines, and a distribution vehicle seized, investigators are now tracing the wider network.
Key Takeaways
Noida police arrested two men from Bulandshahr on 14 November 2026 for running a counterfeit cigarette racket.
Accused refilled empty Gold Flake and Capstan packs with loose tobacco using three industrial packing machines .
Total seizure: 4,940 empty cigarette packs , 700 grams of loose tobacco , 185 ready-made fake cigarettes , 3 machines , and 1 car .
Second accused Sandeep alias Sanjeev has 3 prior criminal cases at Pahasu police station in Bulandshahr.
FIR filed under Sections 318(4) and 349 of the BNS and Section 104 of the Trade Marks Act .
Police are now tracing other members of the network and assessing how many retailers received fake stock.
Police in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, have dismantled a counterfeit cigarette manufacturing and distribution racket, arresting two individuals on 14 November 2026. The accused allegedly used industrial packing machines to refill empty branded cigarette packs with loose tobacco and pass them off as genuine products to unsuspecting retailers across the region.
How the Racket Operated
According to investigators, the accused sourced empty packs of popular brands — including Gold Flake and Capstan — filled them with 700 grams of loose tobacco, and rewrapped them using three packing machines. The finished counterfeits were designed to closely mimic original packaging, making visual detection difficult for small shopkeepers. The fake cigarettes were then sold to retailers as authentic branded products, with the accused pocketing the difference in profit.
What Was Seized
A raid near Pusta Road in Kakrala, carried out by a team from Phase-2 Police Station, Gautam Buddh Nagar — assisted by local intelligence and beat policing units — yielded a significant haul. Officers recovered 3,500 empty Gold Flake cigarette packs, 1,440 empty Capstan packs, 128 Gold Flake cigarettes, 57 Capstan cigarettes, 700 grams of loose tobacco, three packaging machines, and a car allegedly used to transport and distribute the counterfeit stock. In total, 4,940 empty cigarette packs of various brands were confiscated.
Who Was Arrested
The two arrested individuals have been identified as Sandeep, son of Dharamveer Singh, and Sandeep alias Sanjeev alias Sunny, son of Mahavir Singh. Both are residents of Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh. According to investigators, the second accused — Sandeep alias Sanjeev — already has three prior criminal cases registered against him at Pahasu police station in Bulandshahr, suggesting a pattern of involvement in fraudulent activity.
Legal Action and Next Steps
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Sections 318(4) and 349 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 104 of the Trade Marks Act. Separate teams have been formed to identify and trace other members of the network believed to be operating behind the arrested duo. Investigators are also working to establish how many retailers received counterfeit stock and the full geographical spread of the racket. Authorities have indicated they expect to tighten enforcement against counterfeit branded tobacco networks in the region following this operation.
Point of View
But which retailers knowingly sold the fakes — because consumer harm and brand damage extend well beyond the manufacturing end of the chain. With the Trade Marks Act invoked alongside the BNS, the legal framework is in place; the follow-through on the wider network will determine whether this was a one-time bust or the beginning of a sustained crackdown.
NationPress
14 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the fake cigarette racket busted in Noida?
Noida police dismantled a counterfeit cigarette operation in which two men from Bulandshahr were filling empty Gold Flake and Capstan packs with loose tobacco and rewrapping them using machines to resemble genuine products. The fake cigarettes were then sold to small retailers as authentic branded goods.
What items were seized in the Noida cigarette racket raid?
Police seized 4,940 empty cigarette packs of various brands, 700 grams of loose tobacco, 128 Gold Flake cigarettes, 57 Capstan cigarettes, three industrial packing machines, and a car used to distribute the counterfeit products.
Who were the two arrested in the Noida cigarette case?
The arrested individuals are Sandeep, son of Dharamveer Singh, and Sandeep alias Sanjeev alias Sunny, son of Mahavir Singh — both residents of Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh. The second accused reportedly has three prior criminal cases registered against him in Bulandshahr.
What charges have been filed in the Noida fake cigarette case?
Police have registered an FIR under Sections 318(4) and 349 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 104 of the Trade Marks Act. Separate teams are tracing additional members of the network.
How did the Noida police uncover the counterfeit cigarette network?
A team from Phase-2 Police Station in Gautam Buddh Nagar, working alongside local intelligence and beat policing units, acted on a tip-off and conducted a raid near Pusta Road in Kakrala, leading to the arrests and seizures.
