India, Oct. 12 -- Cross-border infiltration apart, the bordering districts in Bihar and West Bengal are facing a new problem these days: Pakistan-manufactured fairness creams, marketed as 'Gori Beauty' and 'Chandani Whitening', have emerged as popular products in bordering areas of Bihar and Bengal, raising concerns over cross-border smuggling and potential health risks, officials said.

The illegal trade came to light after personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) seized a large consignment of banned cosmetic products near the Nepal border in Bihar and Bengal. The creams were allegedly being smuggled into India through Nepal, exposing gaps in efforts to prevent prohibited goods from entering domestic markets.

The seizure prompted the ...