Munger: India's Cigarette Birthplace Now a Hub for Counterfeit Trade

• Munger, Bihar, once Asia's first cigarette manufacturing site (ITC factory 1907), is now a major hub for counterfeit cigarettes.
• Rising cigarette prices over the past decade have fueled the illegal trade, making counterfeit products more appealing to consumers.
• Agencies like Bihar Police and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are actively combating a sophisticated network involved in manufacturing and distributing fake cigarettes.
• A recent seizure near the ITC factory area uncovered nearly four lakh counterfeit cigarette sticks worth Rs 50 lakh and Rs 85 lakh in cash, highlighting the scale of the problem.
• Authorities are on high alert for a potential surge in counterfeit activities following an upcoming increase in excise duty on cigarettes from February 1.

Why It Matters: Munger, historically significant for cigarette production, is now battling a rampant counterfeit cigarette trade.