8 million cigarettes seized at Dublin port.
3, December 2018 l Buzz.ie
The cigarettes that were seized have an estimated value of €4 million and they were discovered during a search of a freight that came into the port from Rotterdam.
The officers were carrying out a routine check when the discovered the haul.
With the aid of the Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, the officers were able to discover the cigarettes.
The brands that were seized were ‘Mayfair’ and ‘Richmond’ and it would have meant a loss to the Exchequer of approximately €3.3 million.
https://www.buzz.ie/news/8-million-cigarettes-seized-309134
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Customs officials seize 1.8kg gold at Jaipur Airport.
2, December 2018 l DNA India
The customs officials apprehended two passengers at the Jaipur airport for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.8kg gold by concealing it in slippers and sandals on Saturday.
Sources said that two passengers had arrived on a flight from Bangkok and had concealed small pieces of gold in the sole of their footwear. The conduct of the two raised suspicion and when a team of customs officials intercepted and questioned them, the accused admitted to smuggling gold which they were after delivering it in Jaipur were supposed to leave for Bihar.
According to customs officials, the trend of smuggling of gold from Bangkok has been on the rise of late. Earlier, the major gold smuggling was done by passengers arriving from the Gulf. Bangkok is a new phenomenon.
https://www.dnaindia.com/jaipur/report-customs-officials-seize-18kg-gold-at-jaipur-airport-2691474
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1.8 million smuggled cigarettes seized by Customs.
28, November 2018 l Radionz
Customs has seized about 1.8 million cigarettes and more than $2 million cash in an investigation into an Auckland businessman.
New Zealand Police have also restrained multiple properties, luxury cars and bank accounts.
The businessman was arrested by Customs at Auckland Airport last Wednesday as he attempted to leave the country.
He has been charged with defrauding Customs revenue.
“The tax evaded by smuggling the 1.8 million cigarettes is almost $1.8m,” Customs said in a statement.
The investigation began after Customs identified a company suspected of smuggling cigarettes inside sea containers. Customs, during a recent container inspection, located 340,000 cigarettes hidden inside metal cabinets.
Lear MoreThree arrested on attempt to smuggle foreign cigarettes.
26, November 2018 l News First
Three individuals who had attempted to smuggle foreign cigarettes into the country have been arrested by the Custom at the BIA.
The cigarettes are valued at over Rs. 2.5 million.
Media Spokesperson for the Customs, Sunil Jayarathne said that the arrested suspects had arrived at the country from Sharjah. They have been identified as residents of Maligawaththa and Thissamaharama.
Jayarathne added that the number of cases in smuggling cigarettes into the country have significantly increased.
https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/11/26/three-arrested-on-attempt-to-smuggle-foreign-cigarettes/
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Fake cosmetics worth Dh1m seized in Dubai Police raid.
25, November 2018 l Gulf News
Dubai: Thousands of counterfeit cosmetic products valued at Dh1 million have been seized in Dubai, a police official said.
Colonel Omar Mohammad Bin Hammad, deputy director of the Anti-Economic Crime Department, said the products were seized during a raid on a warehouse in Bur Dubai.
“We received information about a warehouse with fake products. We raided the place and found 220,000 fake cosmetic products and make-up [kits] carrying famous brands’ logos. [The seized products were] worth Dh1 million,” Col Bin Hammad said. An Arab national running the warehouse was arrested.
“The warehouse was raided just before the products were to be distributed in local markets,” Col Bin hamad said. The seized products included different types of lip stick, nail polish and powder.
Colonel Bin Hamad said that people selling fake products are increasingly hawking their wares on social media, rather than on the streets.
https://gulfnews.com/uae/crime/fake-cosmetics-worth-dh1m-seized-in-dubai-police-raid-1.60319248
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Experts stress on 3 C’s to fight illicit trade.
22, November 2018 l SME Times
Experts participating at an FICCI CASCADE training programme viewed that there is a need to create communication, coordination and close cooperation amongst various government agencies, law enforcement officials and private sector to curb the growing menace of illicit trade.
FICCI organised the training program for Delhi police officials at the Academy for Smart Policing, New Delhi.
Experts at the event viewed that All speakers unanimously agreed on the fact that the existence and operation of smuggling and counterfeiting is not only broad in scope and large in value but is impacting the global economy, causing losses to both industry & government, and most importantly affecting the health and safety of the consumers adversely.
The training was inaugurated by Mr K Jagadeesan, Jt. Commissioner of Police-Training, Delhi Police.
Jagadeesan emphasized that India, as a rising economic superpower need to take offences related to counterfeiting and smuggling very seriously and police has a significant role in fighting this menace.
http://www.smetimes.in/smetimes/news/top-stories/2018/Nov/22/illicit-trade-ficci-cascade41551.html
Lear MorePREVENTION OF COUNTERFEITING, SMUGGLING AND PIRACY – Capacity Building Programme for Police Officers, New Delhi
November 22, 2018 Academy for Smart Policing, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Over some time now, trade in counterfeit, smuggled and pirated goods has developed into a substantial threat to the Indian economy and pose serious safety and security hazards to the society at large. Different government agencies are involved at various stages in tackling such crimes, right from detection, investigation, prosecution to prevention of such offences, often including the recovery of the proceeds of crime. The Police department is the primary law enforcement agency in our country. With low barriers to market entry and infiltration, the Police plays a very significant role in ensuring the protection of right owners. Although there are adequate laws available, their enforcement makes the role of police officers even more important in the fight against counterfeiters and smugglers.
FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy [CASCADE] in its endeavor to combat crimes related to smuggling and counterfeiting has over the years been sensitizing the country’s enforcement agencies on this issue, equipping them to understand and take requisite action against the various economic offenders. In this backdrop, FICCI CASCADE organized a training programme in association with Delhi Police on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy for the Delhi Police officers on November 22, 2018 at the Academy of Smart Policing, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. A key objective of the program was to sensitize the participating officials on the seriousness of the socio-economic impact of counterfeited and smuggled goods, in terms of the huge revenue losses to the government and industry as well as the significant health and safety consequences faced by consumers.
The program was inaugurated by Mr. K Jagadeesan, Jt. Commissioner of Police-Training, Delhi Police, who observed that India as a rising economic superpower needed to take offences relating to counterfeiting and smuggling very seriously and that police had a significant role in fighting this menace. He further reiterated that although such offenses were looked at as a victimless crime, it had many far-reaching consequences which was why is was extremely important for a police officer to understand the consequences before taking actions on ground. “Only then will an officer investigating a case related to smuggling and counterfeiting be able to understand and take suitable actions”, Mr. Jagadeesan emphasized.
Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE, in his address informed about FICCI CASCADE’s mandate of capacity building of law enforcement agencies including Judges, Police and Customs Officers, and how CASCADE had been working extensively and intensively in this area across the country, organizing training programmes and seminars along with continuous Interactions with the law enforcement authorities to emphasize the importance of increased awareness on the gravity of the problem.
Mr. Chand correlated smuggling and counterfeiting activity with the security challenge in different environments around the world. He cited various instances where illicit trade in goods was being increasingly used to fund anti-social and terrorist activities. He also felt that the need of the hour was tangible actions to increase enforcement, accompanied by enhanced punishments for effective deterrance. This is imperative to reassure legitimate business owners and consumers that the government is serious about protecting right owners, and this will, in turn, encourage greater support for government policies.
The training programme was attended by senior police officers of the rank Asst. Commissioner of Police and above, and provided a useful platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences in the enforcement of laws and practices while dealing with the perpetrators. This workshop was extremely helpful in sensitizing the police officers about the relevant laws and procedures to be followed while dealing with the cases related to smuggling and counterfeiting. The technical sessions were followed by an Interactive-Session between the participating officials and industry representatives. Industry members highlighted some of the on-ground practical issues which they faced while trying to curb the availability of spurious goods and collaborative actions they sought from police to counter this menace. Prototypes of fake and smuggled goods available in the markets were also displayed and discussed with the officers.
Among the speakers who discussed the wide-ranging concerns on the issue of counterfeiting, piracy and smuggling with the participating police officials were: Dr. Kshitij Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi, Mr. Udaykiran Devineni, ICE Representative, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, US Embassy, Ms. Priya Rao, Partner K&S Partners, Intellectual Property Attorneys, Mr. Madhuresh Singh, Head-Legal, Puma and Mr. Anubhav Jain, South Asia ACF Investigations Manager, Global Anti-Counterfeit Program, APJ Region Global Brand Security Group, HP.
All speakers unanimously agreed that the issue of illicit trade should be addressed as a high priority problem by the government. An orchestrated strategy including communication, coordination and close cooperation amongst various government agencies, law enforcement officials and private sector to combat this menace is imperative. Meanwhile, FICCI-CASCADE, in pursuance of its mandate, will continue to hold similar programmes across the country in briefing enforcement agencies on the procedural and enforcement issues while tackling illicit trading activities.
Gold smuggling: For smuggling gold worth Rs 14 lakh, senior staff of Air India SATS, SriLankan Airlines held.
13, November 2018 l Times Now
New Delhi: Senior employees of Air India SATS and SriLankan Airlines are among three men held for allegedly smuggling gold worth over Rs 14 lakh at Delhi airport, according to an official statement issued Tuesday. It said an Indian man was intercepted after his arrival from Dubai on Sunday. He was apprehended in the toilet of international arrival hall while handing over smuggled gold to one airport staff working as a duty manager for AISATS, Delhi, it said.
“A detailed personal and baggage search of the passenger and airport staff resulted in the recovery of four gold bars total weighing 464 grams having a market value of Rs 14.39 lakh,” the statement issued by the customs said. Air India SATS or AISATS is a 50:50 joint venture between Air India Limited, and Singapore-based SATS Limited, a gateway services and food solutions provider in Asia.
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Bengal Man Arrested With 26 Gold Biscuits In Artificial Kneecap.
12, November 2018 | NDTV
The Border Security Force on Monday seized gold biscuits worth Rs. 95 lakh from the Indo-Bangladesh border area of West Bengal’s Nadia district and arrested a gold smuggler, a BSF officer said.
Acting on a tip-off, the BSF troopers conducted a raid near border outpost Mustafapur in Nadia district’s Krishnanagar area and arrested one Indian national with the smuggled gold biscuits.
“Lokman Pal, 47, of North 24 Parganas district’s Gangulia village was arrested with 26 gold biscuits worth Rs. 95.16 lakh while he was returning after talking to a Bangladeshi national near the international border fence,” said Rabi Ranjan, a senior officer of BSF’s South Bengal frontier.
“The accused had the gold biscuits hidden in an artificial kneecap on his right leg. He has been handed over to Bagda police station along with the seized consignment for further legal action,” he said.
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Sergey Kapinos: India, Pakistan must cooperate to fight drugs and crime.
12, November 2018 l The Statesman
Sergey Kapinos, a Russian career diplomat, assumed the post of the Representative United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for South Asia in November 2016. The office covers six South Asian countries ~ Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Prior to his appointment at UNODC, he was Ambassador, Head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Bishkek. As the Regional Representative, Kapinos’s focus is to increase awareness about the risks and impact of organised crime and corruption on the rule-of-law and security of the people in the region, and to advocate for the comprehensive implementation of the UN Conventions to counter these.
Kapinos, who was one of the speakers at a FICCI Cascade’s international conference recently, spoke to Ashok Tuteja on the margins of the meet Excerpts.
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