Odisha: Fake Tobacco Manufacturing Unit Busted, Duplicate Products Worth ₹65L Seized

Bhadrak: Bhadrak police on Thursday busted a fake tobacco manufacturing unit in the Helasahi area in the Puruna Bazaar area. The raid resulted in the confiscation of fake ‘zarda’ (chewing tobacco) with an estimated market value exceeding Rs 65 Lakh.

Police arrested two individuals connected to the illicit operation, who were subsequently presented in court. The clandestine facility reportedly produced counterfeit versions of well-known tobacco brands.

During the raid, cops seized various items including forged brand logos, a sticker machine, and other manufacturing equipment.

Police sources revealed that this illegal activity had been ongoing for several years before a tip-off led to the crackdown.

A senior police official stated that the operation was prompted by intelligence received about the fake production unit. The successful raid uncovered a substantial cache of spurious tobacco products.

A thorough investigation is ongoing into the extent of this illegal enterprise and its potential connections.