Senior police officials participated in a capacity-building programme held at Phillaur in Jalandhar, focusing on strategies to tackle counterfeiting and smuggling. The event was organized by FICCI-CASCADE at the Police Academy, Phillaur.
Key Address by Special DG Punjab Police
Amardeep Singh Rai, Special Director General of Police, Punjab, stressed that illicit trade has emerged as a complex challenge with far-reaching economic and social consequences. He emphasized that counterfeiting and smuggling not only undermine legitimate businesses and government revenues but also threaten consumer safety and fuel illegal networks. Rai asserted that tackling these challenges requires robust enforcement, continuous capacity-building, and coordinated action among government agencies, law enforcement authorities, and industry stakeholders.
Institutional Preparedness Highlighted
Mohammed Tayyab, Secretary of the Jails Department, Government of Punjab, highlighted the importance of institutional preparedness in addressing economic offences. He noted that as illicit trade networks become increasingly sophisticated, enforcement agencies must remain equipped with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to effectively detect, investigate, and prevent such crimes. Capacity-building initiatives play a vital role in strengthening this preparedness.
Link to Organized Crime
Ankurjeet Singh, Additional Secretary Home, Government of Punjab, said that counterfeiting and smuggling have evolved beyond conventional economic crimes and are increasingly linked to organized criminal activities. He stated that effective enforcement today requires a combination of intelligence-led policing, inter-agency cooperation, and awareness of emerging trends in illicit trade. Strengthening the capabilities of frontline officers is critical to safeguarding the economy and protecting citizens from the harmful effects of counterfeit and smuggled goods.
FICCI-CASCADE Advisor's Remarks
Deep Chand, Advisor of FICCI CASCADE and former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, said that illicit trade continues to inflict significant losses on legitimate businesses while creating serious challenges for law enforcement agencies. Counterfeiting and smuggling distort fair market competition, deprive governments of revenue, and expose consumers to unsafe products. Through sustained engagement with enforcement agencies and policymakers, FICCI CASCADE is committed to strengthening awareness and building institutional capacity to address these challenges effectively.
The programme brought together senior police officers, government officials, legal experts, and industry representatives to deliberate on the growing threat posed by counterfeiting, smuggling, and other forms of illicit trade.
