Fake toothpaste factory busted, over 1.3K tubes seized

Delhi Police arrested a man and detained six for running a counterfeit toothpaste factory using unhygienic conditions and cheap chemicals.

New Delhi: Delhi Police on arrested a 58-year-old man and detained six workers for allegedly running a counterfeit toothpaste manufacturing unit in northwest Delhi’s Kanjhawala area, officials said on Friday, adding that the accused used blue bleaching agents and other chemicals and filling tubes in “extremely unhygienic conditions”

Accused used blue bleaching agents and other chemicals and filling tubes, a police officer said. (Representative photo)

More than 13,000 tubes with Sensodyne brand name were recovered from the unit along with cartons, tube filling and sealing machines, blue colour paste, wrappers, heating guns and cheap chemicals used in the mix, said the police.

According to the police, on Thursday, they received a tip that a factory is using cheap chemicals and tubes to manufacture counterfeit toothpaste. Pankaj Kumar, DCP (Crime) said the team acted on the tip and found the factory and conducted a raid on Thursday. They found six workers who were filling empty tubes and sealing them.

A total of 2100 filled tubes, 10,472 empty tubes with packaging, 200 cartons, six drums of chemicals were recovered from the site. Police said they detained all six workers who revealed the place is owned by a Rohini resident.

“The material inside the factory was inspected that it was confirmed that other chemicals are being used and toothpaste is being produced in highly unhygienic conditions, making it unfit for use. No valid documents, bills, licenses, or authorisations were produced by the accused. Based on the raid and disclosure by the workers, the accused was arrested” said the DCP.

The accused told the police that he bought locally prepared or cheap fluoride mixtures (ingredient in toothpaste) and packing them for sale in different shops in Rohini, west Delhi and also outside Delhi.

Police said raids are being conducted to look for other associates and suppliers of raw material.