No ban on tobacco imports for now, says Sitharaman
Reiterating the government’s stance in reply to members’ concern in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour over illegal import of tobacco and urging the government to disincentivise legal imports, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “Any ban on imports has to be imposed on domestic production also. So, we have to be conscious if we can stop the total import of any commodity. But, do we stop the production of tobacco in this country? We also have to give effective alternatives to the farmers.” Sitharaman said tobacco imports had remained in the range of $40.9 million, but what was of great concern was the rise in smuggling.
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12 arrested in alleged counterfeit goods raid
Twelve people were arrested as part of an alleged counterfeit goods ring at a discount mall in College Park, police said Tuesday.
More than 6,600 products, valued at more than $1.8 million if the items had been real, were seized from The Discount Mall in the raid Monday,College Park police spokesman Lt. Cody Smith said. Items included purses, glasses, wallets and CDs.
The mall was raided by federal agents after vendors were accused of selling counterfeit goods.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/12-arrested-in-alleged-counterfeit-goods-raid/nsCwJ/
Lear MoreFake toner products worth Dh35m seized in RAK
Ras Al Khaimah Police have seized counterfeit products including ink and toner cartridges worth Dh35 million from a villa in RAK city and a warehouse in another emirate and busted a gang of Asians involved in the crime.
Brigadier Abdullah Khamis Al Hadidi, acting chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police, said on Tuesday the Organised Crimes Section of Ras Al Khaimah Police was alerted about some Asian residents dealing in counterfeit products of a number of well-known trademarks. The gang rented a villa in a residential area to cover their crime.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/crime/fake-toner-products-worth-dh35m-seized-in-rak-1.1876360
Lear MoreNorth Korean diplomat kicked out for smuggling.
Han Son Ik, the first secretary of the North Korean embassy in Dhaka, has been ordered to leave the country after failing to declare the goods worth nearly half a million dollars to customs. Bangladesh has kicked out a North Korean diplomat after he was caught smuggling more than one million cigarettes as well as electronics into the country in a shipping container. The diplomat declared that his cargo contained food and soft drinks. But when we opened the cargo, we found 1.6 million stalks of expensive cigarettes and electronics. At market prices these products are valued at 35 million taka ($430,000).
http://www.siasat.com/news/north-korean-diplomat-kicked-smuggling-998837/
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Bangladesh expels North Korean diplomat for smuggling
A North Korean diplomat has been asked to leave Bangladesh for allegedly smuggling more than a million cigarettes. Bangladesh has ordered a North Korean diplomat to leave the country after he was caught smuggling in goods worth nearly half a million US dollars.
Han Son Ik, the first secretary of the North Korean embassy in the capital Dhaka, attempted to smuggle one million cigarettes as well as electronics in a shipping container, Bangladeshi officials said on Monday.
“The diplomat declared that his cargo contained food and soft drinks. But when we opened the cargo, we found 1.6 million stalks of expensive cigarettes and electronics,” Moinul Khan, head of intelligence at Bangladesh customs, told the AFP news agency.
Tobacco products’ smuggling posing serious problem: Sitharaman
The Minister said ways were being explored to completely stop tobacco production in the country and provide alternatives to the tobacco farmers.
Smuggling of tobacco products has posed a serious problem for the government as legal import of cigarettes was less than those coming in through illegal channels, Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman said today. Sitharaman said it was a matter of concern that smuggling of tobacco products into the country was more than those coming through legal routes. “Our concern is illegal import of tobacco products. Illegal imports are increasing. We are trying to strengthen the borders so that illegal imports can be stopped. Commerce Ministry is in regular touch with Finance Ministry under which the customs department falls,” she said during Question Hour.
Lear MoreDubai Customs seizes fake goods worth Dh38. 4M
A total of 95 seizures of fake products worth Dh38.4 million were carried out by Dubai Customs inspectors during the first half of 2016.The seized goods included fake watches, sunglasses, electronics, auto spare parts, textiles, bags and footwear, they said.
The smuggling of counterfeit goods has been on a downward trend in the past two years, as Dubai Customs is playing a primary role in stopping the movement of fake goods and all attempts that violate intellectual property rights (IPR).
IPR protection in Dubai is crucial in light of the UAE’s orientation to unleash the spirit of creativity and innovation in government work and to provide all means of support to creative minds and talented people, in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/dubai-customs-seizes-fake-goods-worth-dh38-4m-1.1873048
Lear MorePolice in Patra, on Wednesday detained three Pakistani nationals, aged 37, 33 and 15, believed to be members of a racket trading in contraband tobacco in the western port. Initially officers arrested the 37-year-old after
On the basis of a tip-off received by Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh, excise officers manning the Aryankavu check-post seized 30,000 packets of pan masala from a lorry transporting vegetables from Tamil Nadu to Kollam.
Excise Circle Inspector T. Anil Kumar said the seized consignment would be worth Rs.15 lakh in the banned tobacco products black market. Each packet with an MRP tag of Rs.5 is sold at rates ranging from Rs.30 to Rs.50 in the black market. Migrant labourers and students form part of the clientele. Saturday’s was the fourth major seizure of banned tobacco products by personnel of the Aryankavu excise check-post in the last one month.
During the period, the Excise officers had seized 3 kg of ganja and arrested five persons in that connection.
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Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development (ADDED) seized 227,617 counterfeit products in Abu Dhabi
department conducted 494 inspections and seized counterfeit products that included auto spare parts, electronics, clothes, accessories and cosmetic products, in addition to 3,792 tonnes of fruits and The vegetables, 448 sheep from vendors, seven kilos of niswar and three tonnes of clothes and household items.
The department also shut down a total of 43 establishments for violating laws pertaining to economic activity and commercial licensing. According to the report issued on Sunday, the ADDED conducted 71,595 field visits to commercial establishments in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region, issuing 3,959 fines. The report indicated that ADDED received 1,834 complaints from consumers and trade name owners regarding wrong or illegal practices and commercial fraud.
Khalifa Bin Salem Al Mansouri, acting undersecretary at ADDED, said that the department is keen on following up on and curbing all practices that affect the performance of businesses. He praised the role played by governmental, semi-governmental and private strategic partners in assisting ADDED to realise its strategic goals and achieve a competitive business environment in Abu Dhabi.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/227-617-fake-products-seized-in-abu-dhabi-1.1875029
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Illegal tobacco products worth 20 lakh seized
The City Task Force led by assistant commissioner of police I ChittiBabu conducted raids at various spots in the city and seized banned tobacco products such as gutkha and khaini worth Rs 20 lakh.This is the biggest haul ever by the CTF. The banned products were seized from Kancharapalem, Vizag Railway Station, NAD Kotha Road, Malkapuram, Gajuwaka, Venkojipalem, Allipuram, Rama Talkies, Prakasaraopeta, Ganjipeta and Seethammapeta. 23 people have been taken into custody.
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