Spanish police investigating smuggling operation involving former IRA members
Gardaí are assisting the Spanish police with their investigation into a multimillion euro tobacco and alcohol smuggling operation. Two former IRA members and convicted bombers Leonard Hardy and his wife Donna Maguire, who live outside Dundalk, were arrested in Spain last week. Garda sources say Maguire has now been released on bail and is due back in Ireland.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0106/670654-spain-smuggling/
Lear MoreEx-IRA pair are arrested in Spain over tobacco smuggling probe
A suspected tobacco smuggler from Co Antrim and two former IRA members whose active service unit went on a killing spree around Europe have been arrested in Spain. It is understood they were detained as part of a major Spanish police operation against tobacco smuggling linked to south Armagh.
Those arrested include husband and wife, Donna Maguire and Leonard ‘Bap’ Hardy, who served prison sentences in Holland and Germany for their parts in IRA attacks on the continent in the late 1980s.
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Operation Team Player nets more than $25,000 worth of fake goods
The 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic netted a win not only for the Washington Capitals, but also for intellectual property rights (IPR) advocates. Law enforcement seized $25,130 worth of counterfeit National Hockey League (NHL) gear and other merchandise leading up to the New Year’s Day outdoor game that featured the Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The operation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department.
The $25,130 value is based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the 680 items of counterfeit NHL gear and other sportswear seized by law enforcement.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/operation-team-player-nets-more-25000-worth-fake-goods
Lear MoreTechNavio Says Growth of the Healthcare Industry Expected to Impact the Global Anti-counterfeit Packaging Market by 2019
The Global Anti-counterfeit Packaging Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.23 percent from 2015-2019, says research firm TechNavio. Rapid urbanization and heightened health awareness have increased spending on pharmaceuticals, which has made a huge impact on the Global Anti-counterfeit Packaging Market.
According to the latest report by TechNavio, the demand for product traceability has increased in recent years, both in healthcare and across other industries. Product traceability systems are aimed at keeping a record of product flow, and also keep track of product attributes throughout the production process.
Lear MoreHolograms to Grow in 2015, says IHMA
The hologram industry is likely to see further growth as the pace at which anti-counterfeiting technologies combine to provide multi-layered solutions continues to quicken.And while security applications remain the most valuable for the industry, 2015 is also expected to see substantial growth in the production of holographic optical elements (HOEs) for use in automotive displays and lighting, as well as for general lighting control.
Ian Lancaster, the general secretary of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), says his industry is meeting end-user needs due to the technology’s adaptability and capacity to push the boundaries of innovation and add value.
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The Reality of a Fake
A new exhibition explores the various levels of authenticity in fashion
Unless you have been super vigilant and only bought your clothing and accessories directly from designer boutiques throughout your life, you have more than likely owned a knock off, a copy, an imitation, ‘inspiration’ or, worse case scenario, a counterfeit of a designer creation–a fake.
But what is a fake? And why should you care that much? When it comes to fashion, it’s a matter of ‘out of sight out of mind’ for the majority of consumers who are already bearing the brunt of hard economic times.
http://world.einnews.com/article/242455477/ZbA4XHiOj0aXjSJr
Lear MoreTax hikes on tobacco, alcohol raise smuggling worries
The government’s first tax increases of the new year were introduced on fixed taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, the Turkish media reported on Thursday, stoking fears of increased smuggling of such products into the country.
According to a Cabinet decision published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, the fixed tax on beer has been increased to TL 0.85 per liter from TL 0.74, a 15 percent rise. As for wine, the fixed tax was raised to TL 4.59 from TL 3.97, a 16 percent increase. The tax on rakı rose by 21 percent to TL 107.72 per liter from TL 89.11. For cigarettes, the fixed tax has reached TL 0.1866 per pack, up from TL 0.13.
Lear MoreTax hikes on cigarettes and alcohol to encourage smuggling, tradesmen union says
The recent rise in fixed tax from cigarettes and alcohol over the inflation rate will encourage smuggling, the head of the Confederation of Turkish Craftsmen and Tradesmen (TESK) BendeviPalandöken has said. Cigarette counterfeiting and smuggling have risen in recent years and the latest tax raises should be suspended to maintain the fight against such illegal activity, Palandöken warned in a written statement on Jan.“The latest tax increase on cigarettes will cause a rise in prices, resulting in a dramatic increase in smuggling. This will pave the way for one in four cigarettes being smuggled in the near future, raising from one in five cigarettes at present.
Lear MoreFive Irish arrested by Spanish police in smuggling swoop
Five Irish nationals, a Norwegian and a Spanish lawyer have been arrested in what is understood to be a major Spanish police operation against tobacco smuggling linked to south Armagh.
The arrests are understood to include husband and wife, Donna Maguire and Leonard ‘Bap’ Hardy, who served prison sentences in Holland and Germany for their parts in IRA attacks on the Continent in the late 1980s. Hardy (54) and Maguire (57) are married with four children and live in the Mount Pleasant area of Dundalk.
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New anti-smoking weapons are needed
It is still not too late to quit. The year is still young and even if you did not start yet or have already relapsed, you can still stop smoking in 2015. Quitting cigarettes is a smart thing, of course. The more people who quit smoking, the healthier Delaware and the rest of the nation become. The trouble is that in many places, the rate of smokers is actually going up. One of the main causes, according to advocates, is not enough money is being spent on advocacy. That is, advertising and smoking-cessation programs.
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