Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has seized 25 tonnes of counterfeit cumin and black pepper and 40 tonnes of raw materials used to produce fake spices. These items were discovered in a small truck that was transporting them and, in a godown, where they were being prepared.
The fake spices were being supplied to wholesale markets. With the festive season approaching, not just sweets are being counterfeited, but also spices and other products.
Acting on a tip-off from an informant, officials from the crime branch intercepted a small truck with a Delhi license plate. Upon inspection, they found 15 plastic bags of counterfeit cumin and ten plastic bags of fake black pepper. The driver of the vehicle was subsequently arrested.
The driver, who claimed to work in the spices business, stated that he was delivering the products to the market.
During the interrogation, the driver confessed that in order to make more money, he produced large quantities of counterfeit cumin by using artificial cumin seeds, low-quality fennel, carrot seeds, caraway seeds, artificial colour, marble stone powder, and jaggery liquid. He then supplied these products to the market.
Following the driver’s arrest, a godown in Swaroop Nagar was raided, recovering a significant amount of fake cumin seeds and black pepper. The police are conducting raids in various parts of Delhi-NCR to apprehend other individuals involved in the case.
