Illicit Trade and Organized Crime Require Unified Action: Deputy Director, Training, Delhi Police

NEW DELHI, 28 July 2025: Mr. Mohammad Ali, Deputy Director, Training, Delhi Police today emphasized on the growing complexity of illicit trade and the need for proactive enforcement. “Illicit trade is deeply connected to larger organized criminal networks and fraudulent activities posing serious risks to national security and economic stability. Our police officers must be equipped with the latest tools, information, and collaborative frameworks to protect citizens, ensure legal trade, and secure national interests,” he added.

Addressing the FICCI CASCADE’s Capacity Building Programme on “Illicit Trade, Fraud & Organized Crime: Building Enforcement Capacity for a Safer Marketplace”, Mr Ali highlighted the importance of enhancing skills, intelligence, and inter-agency cooperation to effectively curb such crimes.

Mr Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, stated, “Illicit trade practices, counterfeiting, smuggling, and related crimes directly undermine the rule of law and inflict enormous losses on legitimate businesses. These are not petty crimes, they fund larger organized syndicates and disrupt societal order. This programme is a step toward creating an alert and well-prepared police force.”

FICCI CASCADE brought together law enforcement leaders and industry experts to equip officers with real-world insights and actionable knowledge. During the interactive session titled “Partnering for Protection: Collaborative Approaches to Combat Illicit Trade, Fraud & Organized Crime”, panellists shared cross-sector perspectives:

Mr Ashish Paul, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, ITC Ltd., said that “Illicit trade is an economic crime with long-term implications for India’s growth story. If we can reduce it by even 50%, we will unlock immense potential boosting revenue, employment, and genuine business activity. Awareness and enforcement together can make this possible.”

Mr Pavan Duggal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and cyber law expert, said “The growing digitization of trade has increasingly intertwined cybercrime and illicit trade, making them deeply interconnected. He underlined the importance of equipping enforcement officers with the knowledge and tools to address not only traditional forms of crime but also digital evidence, cyber-enabled fraud, and emerging AI-driven threats that fuel these illegal activities.

Mr Yogesh Malhotra, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Specialized Training Centre, delivered the vote of thanks, noting, “Today’s session was not just informative but transformative. It reinforced the urgency of cross-sector collaboration and provided our officers with critical insights they can immediately put into practice.”

As per the report by FICCI CASCADE titled “Challenging Landscape of Illicit Trade: How Changing Factors of Consumption Affect Illicit Markets in 5 Key Industries in India”, the size of the illicit market in five key sectors including FMCG packaged goods, personal and household care, alcohol, tobacco, and textiles & apparel has been estimated at about ₹7.97 lakh crore. The report highlights that the illicit market size for textiles and apparel alone stands at ₹4,03,915 crore, accounting for over 50 percent of the total illicit trade. Additionally, the illicit markets for FMCG packaged foods and personal & household care goods are estimated at ₹2,23,875 crore and ₹73,813 crore, respectively.

The report further underscores how illicit trade undermines legitimate businesses, distorts market competition, and significantly reduces government tax revenues. The impact is particularly severe in industries historically subject to higher taxation, tobacco and alcohol, where over 50 percent and 46 percent of the illicit market, respectively, can be attributed to punitive tax structures.

FICCI CASCADE has been working closely with government bodies, enforcement agencies, industry stakeholders, and civil society to combat illicit trade. This programme was yet another milestone in their sustained mission to raise awareness and build capacity among frontline officers to effectively identify, investigate, and act against such economic crimes.