---
title: "Spurious Cosmetics Valued at ₹9.64 Lakh Seized in Thiruvananthapuram"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/spurious-cosmetics-seized-thiruvananthapuram-mercury-alert-ooxji
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Health
published: 2026-08-12T18:30:26.360Z
modified: 2026-08-12T21:00:06.894Z
language: en-IN
---

# Spurious Cosmetics Valued at ₹9.64 Lakh Seized in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram authorities have seized spurious cosmetic products worth ₹9.64 lakh as part of 'Operation Soundarya'. Health Minister K. Muraleedharan reported unsafe mercury levels in two face cream brands.

## Key takeaways

- Spurious cosmetic products totaling ₹9.64 lakh have been seized in Thiruvananthapuram.
- The seizure is part of 'Operation Soundarya' by the Drugs Control Department.
- Two face cream brands, 'Faiza' and 'Goree', contained mercury levels up to 20,000 ppm, far exceeding the legal limit of 1 ppm.
- The operation also included checks on lipsticks and baby care products.

The Drugs Control Department in Thiruvananthapuram has confiscated counterfeit cosmetic items amounting to ₹9.64 lakh. The action, announced by Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, stemmed from inspections conducted as part of an initiative called 'Operation Soundarya'.

The seized products included items that contravened the Cosmetics Rules of 2020, as well as goods manufactured and distributed without the required licenses and permits. These inspections were prompted by concerns over health issues among children and teenagers linked to the extensive use of face creams. Samples of various face creams were collected and sent for testing to the department's laboratories in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.

## What Happened

During the testing, an excess of mercury was detected in samples of certain lipsticks and face creams. Specifically, two brands of face cream, 'Faiza' and 'Goree', which are manufactured in Pakistan, were found to contain up to 20,000 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, far exceeding the legal limit of 1 ppm. These products reportedly entered the market without purchase bills. The Drugs Control Department has initiated steps to remove such products from circulation.

## Key Facts

- Spurious cosmetic products valued at ₹9.64 lakh were seized in Thiruvananthapuram.
- The seizure was conducted as part of 'Operation Soundarya' by the Drugs Control Department.
- Unsafe levels of mercury were found in two face cream brands, 'Faiza' and 'Goree'.
- These brands, manufactured in Pakistan, contained up to 20,000 ppm of mercury, significantly over the 1 ppm limit.
- The operation involved quality checks on lipsticks, baby care powders, oils, and soaps.
- Previous phases of the operation resulted in seizures of ₹5.09 lakh, ₹2.50 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh, and ₹55,000 worth of products.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/spurious-cosmetics-seized-thiruvananthapuram-mercury-alert-ooxji
Reported from: Multiple Sources