Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has dismantled a sophisticated international operation involving the illegal import and distribution of expired food products from the United States, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Seven individuals have been apprehended in connection with this extensive scam, which defrauded consumers of approximately Rs43 million (Indian Rupees).
The criminal network specialized in acquiring expired or nearly expired consumable goods from Mumbai-based wholesalers. These products, bearing internationally recognized brands including Nescafe, Lays, Oreo, Lipton, Starbucks, and Kewpie, underwent systematic reprocessing at a concealed facility. The operation involved sophisticated manipulation techniques including expiration date alteration, product repackaging, and generation of counterfeit barcodes to conceal the items’ true age and origin.
Law enforcement authorities uncovered the entire adulteration setup during coordinated raids in Delhi’s wholesale district of Sadar Bazar, specifically targeting locations in Pahari Dheeraj and Faiz Ganj. The seized evidence included specialized equipment for repackaging operations and a fake barcode printer used to mislabel products. The compromised items spanned multiple food categories including infant nutrition products, chocolate confectioneries, beverages, condiments, and snack foods.
The investigation revealed that these manipulated products were strategically channeled to premium grocery retailers across India, targeting discerning consumers who trusted established international brands. This case highlights significant vulnerabilities in food import verification processes and distribution networks, raising serious concerns about public health safeguards and regulatory oversight in India’s food supply chain.