HCM City struggles to combat smuggling
So far this year the city investigated 43,217 suspected cases and uncovered 39,542 crimes — 3,241 related to selling prohibited and smuggled goods, 366 to fake, low-quality, and pirated goods, 10,607 to cheating, and 25,328 to other offences. Police commenced criminal proceedings in 105 cases and plan to do so in 85 others. Over VND3 trillion (US$150 million) was seized from the offenders. “Smuggling is very complicated. Smugglers resort to both official and unofficial imports, especially from China, Cambodia, and Laos,” Phan Hoan Kiem, head of the city Market Watch Department, told Thoi Bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) newspaper. His department has asked the Government for funds to buy modern equipment and pay rewards to people helping bust smuggling activities.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/113659/hcm-city-struggles-to-combat-smuggling.html
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Anti-counterfeit technology: news in brief
AuthiCode at BLEAuthicode is launching new licensing-specific modules for its cloud-based product verification system at the Brand Licensing Europe conference in London, UK, this week which allow “brand licensors … to monitor their licensing network, track their products and enhance customer relations.” Using the system, the licensor is able to trace a product’s entire production-to-sales process and ensure that contract agreements remain intact, claims the company.
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Global crime gangs behind surge in counterfeiting, customs says; fake pharmaceuticals laced with rat poison
Well-organised criminal gangs looking for lucrative new markets are behind a surge in “dangerous” counterfeit goods arriving in Australia, Customs says. And the agency has warned it is not just sunglasses, luxury handbags and DVDs being counterfeited. In a worrying trend, gangs are branching out into pharmaceuticals and auto and aviation spare parts and the number of fakes will only increase. Customs NSW regional commander Tim Fitzgerald says that poses major risks for consumer safety. “It’s particularly dangerous at the moment with the personal goods,” he told 7.30.
Lear MoreCounterfeit goods seized in PA
Port Alfred SAPS, in a joint operation with HB Counterfeit Investigations (Pty) Ltd, earlier today confiscated more than 300 units of counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R150 000. The items include tracksuits, shirts, hats, shoes, sunglasses, watches and wallets with brand names such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, DH, Uzzi and Converse All Star.
http://www.theannouncer.co.za/counterfeit-goods-seized-pa/
Lear MoreManila Raid Yields Over P500-M In Fake Goods
Combined operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Intellectual Property Office, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) raid several warehouses in Binondo, Manila on Friday. Authorities seized over P500-Million worth of assorted fake products. Photo shows (left) Ben Entico,Special Assistant to the BOC District Collector, Port of Manila and Sr. Supt. Bustamante, Chief of the PNP CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit inspecting sachets of fake “Maggi Sarap.” seasoning granules
Lear MoreSmuggled phones help N. Korea defectors send money
In this Sept. 21, 2014 photo, North Korean defector Choi Jung-hoon, center, listens as North Korean democracy activist Park Sang-hak, right, speaks before they release balloons carrying leaflets and banners condemning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his government’s policies during a rally against North Korea in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea. One recent survey by a Seoul civic group of about 400 defectors suggested that one in every two defector families in the South send home money. “Even though we have very small incomes here, we still eat rice at every meal,” Choi said. “If we don’t buy new clothes, we can save some money to send to our family members in the North. That’s a lot of money for them.
Lear MoreSniffer dogs find counterfeit and smuggled tobacco
Sniffer dogs found counterfeit and smuggled tobacco worth more than £38,000 in a crackdown in Sandwell. Trading standards officers with Phoebe and ScampPhoebe and Scamp, the two sniffer dogs provided by BWY Canine, helped council trading standards and West Midlands Police officers uncover hidden stashes at seven premises in the borough. The operation was done as part of Sandwell’s Safer 6 campaign.
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Tobacco Smuggling Rises Explosively as Gov’t Is Set to Raise Cigarette Price
As the government’s decision to raise the cigarette prices by 80 percent from early next year has become the talk of the town, the scale of tobacco smuggling is getting bigger.
According to data submitted by the Korea Customs Service requested by Congressman BakMaeng-woo (New Frontier Party), the value of smuggled tobacco products caught at the customs rose more than 10 times to 43.69 billion won (US$40.9 million) last year from 4.09 billion won in 2011 and 3.28 billion in 2012.
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Letter: Black market in NY cigarettes
It’s time for New York leaders to wake up and listen to state law enforcement professionals: The adult smoking rate is going up because of the growing crime of cigarette smuggling in the Empire State, not because of budget cuts to anti-smoking programs [“Survey: Smoking on rise in NYC,” News, Sept. 16].
Each year investigative experts estimate that 50 percent to 60 percent of cigarettes smoked in New York City are trafficked via the black market. Smokers are spending less for contraband cigarettes than ever before, clearly going out of their way to avoid paying for the most expensive packs in America and making it easier to light up.
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/letters/letter-black-market-in-ny-cigarettes-1.9477572
Lear MoreTobacco smugglers caught entering Valencia
GUARDIA CIVIL officers have confiscated 3,500 packets of tobacco and have arrested five people at customs in the Manises airport of Valencia. Sources report that the five men, of Moldovan origin, were attempting to smuggle the cigarettes into Spain by hiding them in their luggage. According to a police statement, the men were arrested on separate occasions between September 25 and September 27 after disembarking flights from Moscow. On examination of the passengers’ baggage, a total of 3,516 packets of cigarettes of various brands were found hidden within the smugglers’ suitcases. The five men are aged between 27 and 54 and have been accused of breaking contraband laws.
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