October 20: Government authorities have found that counterfeit cigarettes are being sold openly in the market in the southern border of Nepal.

 Counterfeit products of Nepali cigarette brands like Khukuri and Shikhar are being imported illegally from India. After learning about the illegal business, police and customs department seized the cigarettes from the market after raid.

Such cigarettes are being sold without any sticker. Representative of Surya Nepal Pvt, the manufacturer of those brands, has complained about the illegal trade of counterfeit products to the concerned authority. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd’s Manager in Province 2, Prakash Bhandari, claimed that the cigarettes are being sold openly in Janakpur of Dhanusha and its surrounding areas such as Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha, Saptaari and other border areas of Rautahat.

The local producers claimed that counterfeit cigarettes worth Rs 50 million are brought in the country in a month from across the border.

Bhandari accused that the local authority has not shown any concern to curb the illegal trade despite the company’s request to the government to take legal action against those involved.

Police arrested two persons from a store in Janakpur after raid but both were released from custody after questioning. Likewise, Janakpur Customs Office has seized products worth more than Rs 114,000 from Samjhana Trades and Rubi Trades.