Focus State: Kolkata | Date: 12th November 2025
FICCI CASCADE organised a Capacity Building Programme for police officers in Kolkata on 12th November 2025, focusing on the theme ‘Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling’. The programme brought together over 80 senior police officials and industry representatives to deliberate on enforcement challenges, share real-world case experiences, and explore collaborative strategies to strengthen anti-smuggling and anti-counterfeiting operations. The initiative aimed to enhance investigative capabilities and promote closer coordination between law enforcement agencies and industry stakeholders in tackling economic offences.
Addressing the programme, Mr Amit Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, emphasized the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding society and ensuring fair trade. He noted that illicit trade not only undermines legitimate businesses but also erodes public trust, threatens consumer safety, and weakens the social and economic fabric of the nation. Mr Verma also commended FICCI CASCADE for creating a platform that enables meaningful dialogue between law enforcement, industry, and civil society, thereby fostering greater awareness and proactive engagement.
He stressed that tackling this complex challenge requires a multi-pronged approach, combining stringent enforcement, intelligence-led operations, community awareness, and collaborative partnerships. By working together, he mentioned, stakeholders can not only curb the spread of counterfeit and smuggled goods but also strengthen market integrity, protect consumers, and bolster economic resilience against illicit trade.
Mr. Deep Chand IPS, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, outlined key drivers of illicit trade in India, including price differentials with neighbouring countries, high tax arbitrage, high-margin and portable nature of certain products, organised crime networks, weak enforcement mechanisms, and widespread consumer unawareness that normalizes such trade. He mentioned that high taxation creates opportunities for illegal operators to exploit gaps and evade compliance.
Mr. Ashish Paul, Vice President- Corporate Affairs, ITC Ltd., highlighted corporate strategies to mitigate illicit trade. These include empowering consumers as the first line of defence, enhancing supply chain monitoring, collaborating with enforcement agencies, incentivising vigilance, and leveraging technology for product traceability and early detection of counterfeits. According to FICCI estimates, illicit cigarette trade resulted in revenue losses exceeding Rs. 13,331 crores in 2019–20, while international estimates place the figure at over Rs. 21,000 crores, he added.
Mr. Shahid Ali Khan, Brand Protection Manager (Legal), Marico. Ltd. talked about the growing challenges posed by counterfeiting and illicit trade for consumer-facing industries. He accentuated that protecting brand integrity goes beyond legal enforcement, it requires proactive monitoring of the market, collaboration with law enforcement agencies, and consumer awareness initiatives. Mr. Khan discussed the critical role of legal frameworks in combating counterfeiting and smuggling, the importance of timely action against infringers, and the value of leveraging technology to track and trace products across the supply chain.
The programme concluded with an engaging discussion where officers exchanged insights on real-world enforcement challenges, shared best practices, and explored collaborative strategies to combat counterfeiting and smuggling. The interactive dialogue enabled law enforcement officers and industry representatives to identify gaps, deliberate on innovative solutions, and reinforce the importance of coordinated action.
