Rs 35 Lakh Worth Counterfeit TVS Motor Spare Parts Seized
Officials of Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Cell have seized fake parts, labels and die tool machines worth Rs 35 lakh during a raid conducted here recently. The IPR Enforcement Cell, Dindigul unit of Tamil Nadu Police along with officials of TVS Motor Company carried out a raid in some godowns in the district and recovered huge quantities of spare parts, unfinished counterfeit cannisters, die tool machines worth Rs 35 lakh, a press release said.
Following the seizure, IPR Enforcement Cell officials initiated legal action against the company involved in the supply of fake spare parts under the provisions of Copyright Act, the release said.
TVS Motor Company has taken up brand protection programme to ensure availability of genuine parts to consumers through its 4,000 touch points. The Chennai-based company has appointed over 100 authorised parts stockists to supply genuine parts in retail markets across the country, the release added.
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P80-M worth of smuggled, fake cigarettes found in Malabon, Manila
An anti-cigarette smuggling task force uncovered smuggled and fake cigarettes worth about P80 million in Malabon and Manila last week amid higher prices of the so-called sin product due to the government’s first tax reform package, the two leading tobacco manufacturers said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s “Strike Team,” led by revenue officer Remedios Advincula Jr., in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, last April 17 discovered “large” quantities of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes at a crystal meth (shabu) factory in Barangay Santolan in Malabon, PMFTC Inc. said in a statement.
Authorities found 150 master cases of fake Marlboro cigarettes at a leased property reportedly owned by Marynor Patricio and Nova Acuna, PMFTC said, even as the tax force had yet to confiscate the goods.
Since the cigarettes are fake, they have either no tax stamps or fake tax stamps, hence depriving the government of excise tax payments.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984345/p80-m-worth-of-smuggled-fake-cigarettes-found-in-malabon-manila
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Customs seizes 174,015 litres of petroleum products valued N27m
Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says the Service seized 174,015 litres of petroleum products valued at about N27 million in 2017.
Attah made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
He said just like any other products, the NCS had been doing a lot to ensure that products that should not be exported were not, as well ensure that prohibited goods were not smuggled into the country.
“In the case of petroleum products, the statistics here is that of Jan. 2017 to Jan. 2018. A total of 174,015 litres have been seized across the Customs Commands.
“Further breakdown shows that within this period, 81,270 litres of petroleum products were seized in Seme border, 69,150 litres in West Martine Command, 10,000 litres in Federal Operations Unit Zone D, that is the Northeast.
http://thenationonlineng.net/customs-seizes-174015-litres-petroleum-products-valued-n27m/
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Officials: $5M in counterfeit cellphone parts, $1.1M in cash seized.
Authorities seized about $5 million in counterfeit cellphone components and accessories, along with $1.1 million in cash, from two Wantagh men who used them to repair cellphones that they sold as new, Nassau County officials said Thursday.
The arrests of Gurcharan Luthra, 37, and Sumesh Pasricha, 48, on Monday followed a four-month investigation into the duo, who authorities say received shipments from China and sold the goods on the internet, a store called AMS World in Wantagh and their shared residence on Poulson Street.
Representatives from Nassau police, the Nassau County Distric Attorney’s office, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a multitude of the products, which were spread out across three long tables during the Thursday news conference in Levittown.
Luthra and Pasricha were arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead. Luthra is charged with two counts of counterfeiting second-degree, and Pasricha is charged with counterfeiting second-degree and conspiracy fifth-degree.
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/counterfeit-good-homeland-security-1.17738046
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Smuggled goods spike industry losses by 44%.
NEW DELHI: The market for contraband and smuggled goods is thriving in India and is one of the biggest challenges faced by Indian industry. As per FICCI CASCADE report, total loss to the government on account of illicit markets in just seven manufacturing sectors was Rs 39,239 crore in 2014.
The maximum revenue loss to the exchequer on account of counterfeiting and illicit trade is attributed to tobacco products, estimating a revenue loss of Rs 9,139 crore followed by mobile phones at Rs 6,705 crore and alcoholic beverages at Rs 6,309 crore.
The estimated loss to the industry in just seven industry sectors is Rs 1,05,381 crore, an increase of 44.4% between 2011-12 to 2013-14.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/smuggled-goods-spike-industry-losses-by-44/564555.html
Lear MoreCandle Light Congregation on Fight Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting, Chennai
28/3/2018 | SRM University, Chennai
FICCI CASCADE also organized a Candle Light Congregation on “Fight Against Counterfeiting and Smuggling” in Chennai in association with SRM University on 28th March, 2018 to highlight the issue among the youth on the growing menace of illicit trade. Smt P C Thenmozhi, DIG, Tamil Nadu Police, Kancheepuram, Chief Guest on the occasion, underlined that activities involving illicit trade like smuggling curbed the nation’s economic independence. She urged the participating students to shun the use of fake products and thus participate in the fight against the menace of smuggling in the larger interest of the nation’s economy. “Illicit trade fuels black market which funds terrorist organizations. Let’s be more aware, reject such products and notify the enforcement authorities to help take actions against them” said Ms. Thenmozhi.
Prof. Dr. Sandeep Sancheti, Vice-Chancellor, SRM University in his special address appreciated FICCI CASCADE’s efforts in organizing the programme and in raising awareness on this important socio-economic issue, and motivated the students to join the FICCI CASCADE campaign. He added that curbing smuggling was an important step towards self-reliance, and a critical step towards safeguarding the boundaries of the nation.
More than 250 students, with candles in their hand and banners stating ‘Buy Genuine Not Smuggled’, participated in the congregation. A key objective of FICCI CASCADE is arming the youth with knowledge to make informed choices and awareness on the ill-effects of fake, counterfeit and smuggled products.
Seminar on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling- An Imperative to Accelerate Economic Development, Chennai
27/3/2018 | Hotel Raintree, Anna Salai, Chennai
FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) organized a seminar on ‘Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling – An Imperative to Accelerate Economic Development’ on March 27th, 2018 in Chennai. The object was to discuss the importance of increased awareness among stakeholders on the hazards of illicit trade, and the need for effective enforcement to enhance India’s economic development. Dr. K Jayanth Murali, ADGP Crime Branch CID, Tamil Nadu was of the view that illicit market for fake and smuggled products was one of the biggest challenges faced by Indian industry. In India, the issue of fake currency was also a serious problem as it was lucrative, and offered high returns. Besides, India had porous borders with countries like Nepal and Bangladesh which provided smugglers the opportunity to smuggle products into India. Mr. R. Srinivasa Naik, Commissioner of Customs, Chennai Customs Zone, in his address stated “In India, there is a strong demand for cheaper branded products from toys to airplane parts. Apart from significant economic loss in terms of revenue, the illicit and smuggling activities affects consumer health and safety, promotes money laundering causing huge loss of reputation to brand owners and our country as a whole.”
Ms. Kavitha Dutt, Co-Chairman, FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council, while welcoming the dignitaries, highlighted the objectives of the seminar which included generating awareness, interaction with law enforcement agencies and sharing of best practices. She said that the market for smuggled, counterfeits and contraband products was spreading its tentacles across the industry and this crime had increased manifold. She emphasized that it was imperative to reassure legitimate business owners and consumers that the government was serious about protecting their rights.
Mr. P C Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Chairman, CBEC outlined the impact of counterfeiting & smuggling. “During the last twenty years, volume of counterfeiting activity has increased 100 times and the size of trade in counterfeited goods is 10% of the legal international trade (around 2% of the world’s overall economic output). The problem of illicit trade is much more serious than it is commonly perceived. It has a huge adverse impact on the security and economy of the country, revenue of the government, health of the people and on the environment. There is also no doubt that the illegal money generated through illicit trade in smuggled, counterfeited and pirated goods is a major source to finance such dangerous activities as terrorism, insurgency and other organized crimes”, said Mr. Jha.
Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and former Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Mr. Deep Chand said that industry should cooperate with the police to ensure conviction and not stop at just filing complaints. “It is time that we, as a nation and as a part of the global economy, call for stern and resolute counterstrike measure against such ill-intentioned activities; starting with greater vigil at the borders to bilateral and multilateral engagements between nations, strengthening the enforcement agencies and working towards the removal of ambiguities in the law related to illicit products”, observes Mr. Chand.
On the factors behind consumers opting for counterfeit products, consumer right activist Nirmala Desikan said those who bought fake goods did so as they were cheaper. On drug counterfeiting, she said at one point of time there were about 35 counterfeits of the popular “Nimesulide” (a pain reliever) brand. She said consumers should be alert as such illicit products could be a cause of morbidity and mortality.
The seminar also marked the enthusiastic and encouraging support of Mr. P. Thamarai Kannan, Inspector General of Police, Crime (CID) and Mr. Jagannath Ramaswamy, Chief Mentor, Crystal. Mr. Ramaswamy emphasized on the role of organizations like FICCI and appealed to the industry to help protect the “Consumer”. Mr. Ruban Hobday, Head, FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council gave the Vote of Thanks. Over 150 people attended the seminar, which saw vigorous interaction with most delegates demonstrating an active interest in the issue.
Incidents of cigarettes, tobacco smuggling jump 136% in 2 yrs: FICCI
Incidents of cigarettes and tobacco products smuggling in India increased by 136 per cent in 2016-17 from 2014-15, according to a report by FICCI CASCADE.
The number of incidents of smuggling of cigarettes and tobacco products increased to to 3,108 cases in 2016-17 from 1,312 cases in 2014-15, it added.
FICCI CASCADE, an industry body working on addressing the issue of illicit trade activities in India, also said that while there is an increase in vigilance by enforcement agencies, seizures were only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger and threatening operation in illegal trade in the country.
Maximum revenue loss to the exchequer came from illicit trade of tobacco products, mobile phones, alcoholic beverages, it said. The report said the total loss to the government on account of illicit trade in just seven manufacturing sectors was Rs 392.39 billion in 2014.
Lear MoreFICCI seeks amendment in Form 27 & patent law to facilitate commercialisation of patented product & ease of doing business.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged the patent office to amend Form 27 and update Patent Rules in line with international best practices so as to befit emerging technological fields, make commercialization of patented invention more easier and facilitate ease of doing business.
Form 27 needs to be submitted by patentees under Section 146 (2) of The Patents Act, 1970 providing details of commercial working of a patent in India.
Said Dipankar Barkakati, additional director and head – IPR & FICCI CASCADE at FICCI, “Existing Form 27 requirement has become redundant, burdensome, hampers ease of doing business, makes commercialization of patented invention more difficult and is not aligned to international best practices. There is thus an urgent need to remove Section 146 (working statement requirement from statute book). While, such a change in the law may take some time, meanwhile, may we request patent office to consider updating the Patent Rules and amend ‘Form 27’ befitting the emerging technological fields.”
http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=108375&sid=1
Lear More‘Tobacco, mobiles and booze are fast-moving duplicates’
Tobacco, mobile phones and alcoholic beverages are the three products, in that order, that figure in spurious/illicit trade the most, according to the FICCI Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE).
by FICCI as part of a nation-wide awareness campaign to highlight the growing menace of illegal trade activities in the district.
More than 150 students and consumers with candles in their hand and banners stating ‘Buy Genuine Not Smuggled’ participated in congregation in the city. Fr Titto Varghese, principal, Christ Nagar College and Savio Mathew, head FICCI Kerala State Council felicitated the campaign.
IGP Crime Branch S Sreejith was the chief guest. He congratulated FICCI CASCADE for taking the steps to enrol the youth in the fight against illegal trade such as smuggled and counterfeit goods. Sreejith said the activities involving illegal curbs economic independence and one must pledge to not use fake products. He said the fight against smuggling is a necessity in the larger interest of the nation’s economy.
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