Man arrested at Islamabad airport, Rs3.1m in fake currency seized
A passenger has been arrested at the Islamabad airport for carrying Rs3.1 million in fake currency.
The passenger, identified as Owais Farooq, was travelling to Dubai via flight number EK-613. He was in the waiting lounge when intelligence personnel stopped him and checked him again.
He was carrying 45,000 Dirhams and 25,000 Riyals, according to the authorities.
The intelligence personnel have handed him over to the Customs department.
https://www.samaa.tv/news/2020/09/islamabad-airport-smuggling/
Lear MoreTwo Held For Smuggling Liquor From Telangana To Andhra
Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 1 (ANI): Police officials have arrested two persons on Tuesday for allegedly smuggling over 100 liquor bottles from Telangana to Andhra Pradesh, said police.
The two accused have been identified as Devarakonda Srinivas Rao and Devarakonda Rajesh, who hail from Aswaraopeta town of Khammam district, Telangana.
Vissannapeta circle excise inspector JS Balaji said, “The excise police were checking vehicles at Polavaram village in Chatrai Mandal, close to the Telangana border at 5 am today. Police interrogated two persons travelling on a two-wheeler as their movement was suspicious and their body shape was also looking bit strange. The police then found 101 liquor bottles (180 ml each) tied around their chests.”
He further said that the liquor bottles and motorcycle were seized by the police officials and a case was filed against them under Section 34A of the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act. Later, they were produced before the magistrate.
Lear MoreWebinar on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond , Chhattisgarh
31/08/2020 | Chhattisgarh
Be Vocal for Local and Prevent Illicit Trade
FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) organized the next edition of its state specific webinars on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond’ for the state of Chhattisgarh on August 31, 2020.
Mr Kawasi Lakhma, Minister, Commerce and Industry, Govt. of Chhattisgarh, was the Chief Guest at the programme. Mr Lakhma said, “Effective actions to eliminate smuggling and counterfeiting from the State is a focus area for our government and the concerned departments are extremely vigilant in dealing with such cases.” In his address Mr. Lakhma highlighted that the Chhattisgarh government has taken unprecedented reforms to create an enabling environment and is committed to offering investor a friendly infrastructure. He also added that it is imperative that we must all collaboratively check and substantially reduce the illicit market operations and create an eco-system for growth and development in the State.
As cases related to smuggling and counterfeiting rise steeply during the past few months, this webinar was organized to discuss and understand the disruptions caused by the pandemic, which have opened multiple avenues for criminals to prey upon susceptible organizations and consumers. Mr Manoj Kumar Pingua, Principal Secretary Department of Commerce & Industry, Government of Chhattisgarh said, “India’s role as a global economic powerhouse is increasingly linked to its ability to ensure that rights of legitimate business holders are protected with strong rules, and strong enforcement of the laws and regulations”. He further underscored the need for effective coordination between central and state agencies, strengthening domestic manufacturing, addressing the demand and supply gap and leveraging technology, which will make markets free from illicit products.
Sharing enforcement perspectives, Mr R. K. Vij, Additional Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh said, “During COVID times the Chhattisgarh police has taken strict action against people who have been involved in smuggling and have dealt strongly against those who have indulged in the black marketing of consumer goods”. Mr. Vij also suggested that a nodal agency comprising of representatives from different government departments could be formed to ensure coordinated actions against this menace.
Complimenting the Chhattisgarh government and the enforcement agencies for relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of illicit trade, Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE said that under the leadership of the commerce and industries minister, promotion of local goods and legitimate businesses will create a conducive environment for the economy of the state government and play a major role in strengthening India.
The session was chaired by Mr Sanjeev Tripathi, Former R&AW Chief and Think Tank Member, FICCI CASCADE. The concluding remarks were made by Mr Pradeep Tandon, Chairman, FICCI Chhattisgarh State Council and President, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. The webinar was attended by industry, government officials, officers from the enforcement agencies and stakeholders in this segment.
Kindly register at https://webinar.ficci.com/combating/index.php to take parts in the deliberations.
Coverage reportDownload Pdf
Over one kg gold seized, international passenger and receiver arrested in Chennai
Chennai: Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials at the Chennai International airport have arrested a gold smuggler, who flew in from Sharjah, and the receiver who was meant to collect the gold from him. 1.16 Kg gold of 24K purity, worth Rs 64 lakh (87,348USD) was seized under the Customs Act 1962.
Based on intelligence, a special alert was maintained to nab the smuggler who was expected to arrive on an Air India Express flight from Sharjah. On observing a passenger who appeared to be hurriedly rushing towards the exit with a carton box, officials intercepted the individual and checked his belongings. The carton box was found to contain clothes, household items and a toolkit.
However, the toolkit contained an Electric wrench, which was found to be unusually heavy. On dismantling the machine, a black cylindrical piece of metal was found concealed inside. On further examination, it was confirmed that the metal cylinder was painted in black, but made of pure 24K gold and it weighed 1.16kg.
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CBP Cincinnati seizes illegal, dangerous injectable cosmetics
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers in Cincinnati recently seized six shipments containing prohibited cosmetic injections including various dermal fillers and counterfeit Botox. Two of the shipments originated in Germany, and the remainder came from Thailand, Spain, South Korea, and Turkey. They were addressed to private residences in California, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland.
Although the shippers indicated the packages had values ranging from $15-$175, the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) was much higher, anywhere from $384 to $22,500. The total MSRP for all the shipments was $35,600 had the products been genuine.
“Cheap cosmetic enhancers sold online are often manufactured in unregulated facilities with substandard ingredients and no quality controls,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie. “Our officers and specialists enforce hundreds of laws for many partner agencies, and are committed to ensuring the health and safety of American citizens.”
https://ajot.com/news/cbp-cincinnati-seizes-illegal-dangerous-injectable-cosmetics
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CGA seizes smuggled cigarettes
Thirteen shipping containers of smuggled cigarettes were intercepted on Tuesday at the Port of Taichung, the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) Investigation Branch announced yesterday, adding that the seizure’s potential market value of NT$500 million (US$16.94 million) could be a record.
The branch’s Fongshan team on Tuesday confiscated the containers from the Da Dong cargo ship, registered to the Republic of Sierra Leone and piloted by a Taiwanese captain surnamed Wang . The ship had a crew of 12 Indonesians and 12 Chinese, as well as a Taiwanese chief engineer surnamed Kuo .
The 13 containers, each 40ft long, contained more than 11,000 bales of cigarettes — with each bale expected to hold 500 packs — including Chinese brands Zhonghwa and Double Happiness, and South Korean brand Esse, the branch said.
A source said that eight of the Indonesian crew members had wanted to leave the ship upon discovering that it was a smuggler, but Wang had refused to let them go and refused to pay them two months’ wages.
On Sunday, one of the Indonesian crew members called a priest in Kaohsiung, as the Da Dong was nearing the Port of Taichung, the source said, adding that the priest called a member of the Church in Taichung and asked them to inform the CGA’s central Taiwan branch.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/08/27/2003742354
Lear MoreGold worth Rs 1.15 crore seized from two passengers at Coimbatore airport
COIMBATORE: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 2.6kg of gold, worth Rs 1.15 crore, from two passengers at Coimbatore International Airport. The seized gold was in paste form.
A few weeks ago, the DRI personnel received a tip-off regarding gold smuggling that is to be carried out by a gang based in Dubai through the Coimbatore airport. Since then, DRI officials led by deputy director G Satish were on high alert.
A couple of weeks ago, an Air India Express flight — that was operated under ‘Vandhe Bharat Mission’ — from Dubai landed in Coimbatore. While monitoring the passengers, the personnel questioned a couple, who were natives of Palladam in Tirupur district. The couple had completed their immigration, medical and customs formalities, according to officials.
“As their answers were not convincing and appeared nervous, they were subjected to personal searches. The officials recovered three packets that were stitched on to their inner garments. The packets contained 2.6 kg of gold in paste form,” the official said.
Lear MoreFake cosmetics seized in Hat Yai
SONGKHLA: A large quantity of illegal cosmetic products were seized in a search of a house on Withi Santi road in tambon Bang Phru of in Hat Yai district on Wednesday morning.
Police and health officials were acting on information the house was used for the production and packaging of cosmetic products for an unregistered brand.
The search was conducted by Thung Lung police and officials led by Wilaiwan Sakrin, chief of the consumer protection section of the Songkhla Public Health Office.
They seized containers with four kinds of cream for skin whitening and eradicating skin blemishes, cream jars and boxes.
The seized items, worth about 2 million baht on the street, filled 60 cardboard boxes. They were loaded on a truck and taken to Thung Lung police station for further legal proceedings.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1974971/fake-cosmetics-seized-in-hat-yai
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Fake money syndicate busted
POLICE in Bulawayo have smashed what appears to have been a well-orchestrated fake foreign currency manufacturing racket, arresting a teenage girl and her boyfriend who were allegedly printing the counterfeit money. Police expect to make more arrests as they say the syndicate could involve more people.
During a raid at a house where the couple stayed in North End, police recovered an assortment of fake high denominations of US dollars and South African Rand stashed under a mattress.
Police suspect that several unsuspecting people could have fallen prey to the fraudsters. One of suspects, Chantelle Sibalwa (18) was arrested while trying to use a fake US$100 bill to buy a box of chicken at a local food outlet.
She led investigators to her boyfriend, Onesmus Zimunya (33)’s house where US$2 265 and R1 700 in fake money, an HP Diskjet printer, bond paper, rulers and razor blades allegedly used in the commission of the crime were recovered. It is suspected the fraudsters could have been changing the fake money for real currency by buying stuff and getting change.
https://www.chronicle.co.zw/fake-money-syndicate-busted/
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Gold smuggling busted by Chennai Customs, gold foils worth Rs 78.4 lakh seized.
The Chennai Air Customs Gold seized gold foils weighing 1.45 kilograms and worth Rs 78.4 lakh on Saturday. The smuggled gold, which came in unaccompanied baggage from Dubai, was concealed between layers of cardboard boxes that contained toys and bedsheets. The passenger, who hails from Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu, was arrested.
The arrested passenger was working as an electrician in Dubai and had lost his job because of COVID-19. He had returned to the country recently.
According to Customs, a passenger who had arrived from Dubai earlier, had come to the customs section on Saturday for the clearance of his personal household goods, which had arrived by IndiGo Airlines Flight 6E 9480 as unaccompanied baggage. On opening the carton boxes, they found bedspread and toy boxes, among other items. The bedspread was wrapped around a cardboard sheet, which appeared to be unusually heavy.
On tearing the cardboard sheet, gold foil, wrapped in carbon paper, was found concealed between the two layers of cardboard sheet. Similarly, cardboard sheets were found in all the toy boxes as well. On tearing open the sheets, gold foils wrapped in carbon paper were found concealed inside two cardboard sheets.
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