How counterfeit cigarettes are creeping into B'luru’s smoke scene

Bengaluru: When my long time supplier stopped, I bought stock for a brief period from another vendor, and many customers com plained that the cigarettes were fake. I immediately changed the supplier and haven’t received any complaints since”, said Ramesh (name changed), a petty shop owner in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru.

He added that most small sellers are often unaware of whether the cigarettes inside sealed boxes are original or counterfeit, though they usually try to verify authenticity through packaging details before purchase. Bengaluru Police recently seized nearly 6,000 packets of counterfeit cigarettes worth Rs 14 lakh near Kempegowda International Airport.

In 2024, Raigad crime branch officials uncovered a fake Gold Flake manufacturing unit in a Karjat farm house, arresting 15 men and confiscating stock and ma chinery valued at Rs 5 crore. Despite legal restric tions, including penalties for smoking in public and the ban on selling loose cigarettes, counterfeit cigarettes have been creeping into the city.

These fake products, often cheaper and unregulated, are finding their way into both small corner shops and well-known smoking out lets. “Many people come asking for different brands we’ve never heard of. We prefer to buy cigarettes from a single company to avoid low-quality or fake ones”, said another shop keeper from Tilaknagar.

Consumers have also voiced their concerns. "You can easily identify a fake cigarette by its smell and the texture of the smoke. The filter usually turns dark er when smoking counterfeits because of toxins and adulterated particles," explained Satish, a retired smoker, describing how the quality of the tobacco is easily differentiated.

Another consumer high lighted the legal failure: "While COTPA prohibits selling cigarettes to those under 18, fake and local products are frequently sold to minors through unlicensed stalls. These items often evade taxes, lack health warnings, and are made in unregulated setups.

Despite the threat of fines, imprisonment, and product seizures, the activity continues”. Consumers allege that even large smoke shop outlets are involved in selling counterfeit cigarettes disguised as imported brands like Marlboro, Camel, and others.

Localities such as Koramangala, BTM Layout, SG Palya, and MG Road reportedly have a high concentration of shops engaging in such practices. “It usually happens in crowded places. They don’t sell them directly but mix fake cigarettes with genuine ones, making it hard to notice", said Rahul, another consumer.

Health experts warn that counterfeit cigarettes contain dangerously high levels of toxic substances - including arsenic, lead, mercury, industrial dyes, mold, and even insect parts. Studies have shown that these unregulated cigarettes produce elevated levels oftar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens compared to legally manufactured brands.

“Smoking cigarettes damages almost every organ, from the brain to the lungs, significantly raising the risk of cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. It also causes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Counterfeit cigarettes are much more hazardous”, said Dr Yunus Sheriff, a pulmonologist from a government institute in Bengaluru.

He added that fake cigarettes use toxic substances and lack proper filters, leading to higher concentrations of harmful carcinogens and carbon monoxide, posing risks that are often unknown even to experts. The toxic additives and lack of quality control make these fake cigarettes exponentially more harmful.

Experts urge stricter enforcement, public awareness, and a crackdown on illegal production units to prevent the spread of these hazardous products in the city.