P1-billion fake cigarettes, machines seize in Zamboanga raids
ZAMBOANGA CITY (June 22, 2020) – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in this city confiscated over P1-billion worth of smuggled cigarettes and cigarette-making machines in raids conducted in several warehouses in the Zamboanga peninsula, or Region 9.
Zamboanga City Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Collector Segundo Barte said, among those seized by the agency were over 1,200 master cases of fake cigarettes, fake Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) documentary stamps for excise tax, and cigarette-making machines worth over P1.138 billion.
According to Barte, the composite team seized the master cases of smuggled cigarettes, worth about P34 million, in Dipolog City: the six cigarette-replicating machines, worth P600 million, in Dinas and Labangan towns both in Zamboanga del Sur; and raw imported tobacco, worth P130,000, the fake BIR stamps valued at P500 million, and other imported goods worth P4 million in Pagadian City.
Barte said the composite team raided the warehouses in Dipolog City, Dinas and Labangan town both located in Zamboanga del Sur in compliance with the 10 Letters of Authority (LOA) issued by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to the local BOC here.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/22/p1-billion-fake-cigarettes-machines-seize-in-zamboanga-raids/
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CBP Officers Seize Counterfeit Touchscreen Tablets
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations officers working at the International Falls Port of Entry intercepted an international shipment containing over $460,000 in counterfeit tablets.
The shipment originated in China and was destined for Ohio.
CBP Officers targeted a rail container and after reviewing the information in the shipping documents, selected it for examination. During an examination of the goods, the officers discovered 1,152 counterfeit touchscreen tablets.
“CBP is focused on identifying and intercepting counterfeit merchandise and products. The enforcement of trade laws at U.S. ports of entry remains a high priority for us,” said Anthony Jackson, International Falls Port Director. “Counterfeiting adversely affects the ability of lawful copyright holders to profit from their original ideas. Counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.”
CBP officers contacted CBP’s Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise’s Import Specialists to determine their authenticity. After careful examination and coordination with the trademark owners, Import Specialists determined on June 12, 2020 that the product were in fact counterfeit.
https://lakesuperiornews.com/Public-Safety/cbp-officers-seize-counterfeit-touchscreen-tablets
Lear More5 liquor smugglers arrested in Ballia
Varanasi: The police nabbed five members of two gangs of liquor smugglers and recovered illicit liquor worth of Rs 52 lakh at two different places in Ballia district on Monday. The liquor consignments were being transported to Bihar.
According to reports, during a checking drive the police stopped a truck near Sadauli culvert in Rasara police station area in Ballia on Monday evening. On checking 49,000 bottles of illicit liquor of two brands packed in 980 cartons were recovered from the truck bearing registration number of Haryana.
The police arrested three persons identified as Manish Yadav, resident of Ballia, Rohtas and Sanjay, both natives of Haryana. During interrogation, they confessed that the liquor consignment was being smuggled to Bihar from Haryana.
Lear MoreUS seizes $4,000 worth of counterfeit Apple AirPods
US Customs and Border Protection says it seized almost $4,000 worth counterfeit Apple AirPods. The fake ear pods were discovered in a Chinese shipment at a DHL facility on June 1, CBP said Thursday. While checking the package for its lithium-ion batteries, CBP officers said the “quality of the packaging” wasn’t consistent with usual Apple packaging.
The counterfeit Apple AirPods were turned over for destruction.
“Counterfeit goods, like these, damage our economy,” said Shane Campbell, Chicago Area Port director. “When criminals sell these items, it deprives legitimate businesses from thriving.”
US companies lose billions of dollars every year due to fake products, Campbell said. CBP says it seizes more than $4 million worth of products that violate intellectual property rights every single day.
https://www.cnet.com/news/us-seizes-4000-worth-of-counterfeit-apple-airpods/
Lear MoreWebinar on ‘Go Vocal for Local to Combat Illicit Trade’, New delhi
17/06/2020 | New delhi
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in halting economic activity across the globe. The way businesses are done will not be the same in a post COVID scenario, as this crisis has led to huge supply chain disruption. The pandemic has taught us the importance of local manufacturing, local market and local supply chain. As businesses suffer, during this crisis, any sale of illicit products will only worsen the socio-economic distress. While arresting this menace is vital, encouraging the use of indigenous goods will also play a defining role to eliminate this socio-economic threat. This will in turn promote ‘Brand India’, benefit Indian economy, reduce the demand of imported goods, avoid dumping of cheap products, create jobs and deter cross border illicit trade.
It is in the above background that FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) organized a webinar on Go Vocal for Local to Combat Illicit Trade’ on 17th June 2020. FICCI CASCADE has been over the years working closely with government, enforcement officials, industry, media, and consumers to create awareness on pan-India basis about the serious adverse impact of the menace of illicit trade on the security of the country, revenue of government, health and safety of people, etc.
Dr Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-Convener, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, dinstinguished speaker at the programme said that “In the name of free trade, many countries are promoting illegal trade. In such situation, it is very important to promote Swadeshi to boost the country’s economy and eliminate illegal trade”. He further added that “issues like dumping, under invoicing and smuggling have led to loss of revenue to the government, closing of domestic production and have impacted job opportunities for our youth.”
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE in his welcome address mentioned that “The Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call for ‘vocal for local’ is perfectly timed and apt. In the recent months, the Covid-19 pandemic has created huge disruptions and pressed the reset button all over the globe. India will have to create world-class domestic brands which are competitively superior, and leverage the strength of our rich traditional product base and expertise. The time has come when we not only build Indian brands, but build brand India globally.
The panel discussion at the webinar was moderated by Mr. Najib Shah, Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and Think Tank Member, FICCI CASCADE. Other eminent discussants included Acharya Balkrishna, MD, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, Mr. Ashok Jain, Vice President, Finance and Company Secretary, Dabur India Ltd. and Ms. Vijayalakshmy Malkani, IP Counsel, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
The webinar deliberated on how illicit trade is not only denting government exchequer but is also threatening local industries on which, depend livelihoods of many. In the Indian context, FICCI CASCADE’s recent report estimated that 16 lacs jobs were lost in 2017-18 due to smuggling in 5 industry sectors. The pandemic has resulted in massive loss of jobs and livelihood worldwide and countries are taking extraordinary actions to respond to this crisis. Hence, curbing cross border illicit trade will play a key role in abating this looming threat.
The deliberations in the panel discussion revolved around the following:
• Illicit trade hurts the country and needs to be effectively countered through a combination of policy intervention, enforcement and creating consumer awareness.
• Being self reliant or swadeshi in its true essence does not mean shutting the doors to FDI or trade; it is a strategy to grow our capabilities, source products from within the country and still be competitive.
• The youth of India can play an important role to end the country’s dependency on foreign goods. For the good of the country, government, industry and consumers must jointly take responsibility to stop illicit trade.
• Counterfeit products also come to India via the import channel through dubious means, which leads to loss of revenue for the government which could be used for healthcare, education, infrastructure expenditures.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is a movement to show faith and to support local manufacturers. Enforcement of laws to safeguard local brands and genuine manufactures against illicit trade and counterfeiting of their products is imperative. This will help build ‘Brand India’ and protect the rights of indigenously grown goods
The webinar brought together several industry players and other stakeholders to deliberate on this topical issue. Mr. Arun Chawla, Deputy Secretary General FICCI, in his concluding address harped on the fact that the uniqueness of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ or being ‘vocal for local’ is not that it is inward looking or being protectionist, it is a strategy to build for ourselves, reducing our dependence on imports and thereby promoting fair trade and curtailing cross border illegal trade.
FICCI lauds DRI for largest seizure of smuggled cigarettes
New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) FICCIs Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) has applauded the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), who in a major haul seized foreign brand cigarettes worth Rs 11.88 crore from a container at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai on June 12.
This is one of the biggest seizures since lockdown. Amid lockdown, several cases of seizures by enforcement agencies of smuggled imported cigarettes have been reported indicating a spike in cigarette smuggling over the last few months. The trend is nationwide, with seizures intercepted via road transport, in cargo and passenger luggage.
Congratulating the officers of DRI, Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE said “Cigarette smuggling is a big racket across the globe and India continues to remain a hot bed for this menace. Even as the country is grappling with the coronavirus crisis, the seizures of such goods remain high”.
For developing countries, widespread smuggling has a particularly debilitating effect on efforts to improve domestic resource mobilization, by denying tax revenues, which subsequently affect government spending on healthcare, education, infrastructure.
Lear MoreFICCI CASCADE lauds DRI for a major haul of smuggled cigarettes
New Delhi, 15 June 2020: FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) applauds the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), who in a major haul seized foreign brand cigarettes worth Rs 11.88 crore from a container at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai on June 12, 2020. This is one of the biggest seizures since lockdown. Amid lockdown, several cases of seizures by enforcement agencies of smuggled imported cigarettes have been reported indicating a spike in cigarette smuggling over the last few months. The trend is nationwide, with seizures intercepted via road transport, in cargo and passenger luggage.
Congratulating the officers of DRI, Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE said ‘Cigarette smuggling is a big racket across the globe and India continues to remain a hot bed for this menace. Even as the country is grappling with the coronavirus crisis, the seizures of such goods remain high. The efforts made by the officers who are working under the current challenging circumstances is indeed commendable’.
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Spike in cigarette smuggling during COVID-19 lockdown: FICCI
Industry chamber FICCI’s arm on Monday said several cases of seizures by enforcement agencies of smuggled imported cigarettes reported in the last few months indicate a spike in cigarette smuggling during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy), said the seizure of foreign brand cigarettes worth Rs 11.88 crore from a container at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai on June 12, by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is one of the biggest seizures since lockdown.
“The trend is nationwide, with seizures intercepted via road transport, in cargo and passenger luggage,” FICCI CASCADE said in a statement.
Expressing concern FICCI CASCADE Chairman Anil Rajput said, “cigarette smuggling is a big racket across the globe and India continues to remain a hot bed for this menace. Even as the country is grappling with the coronavirus crisis, the seizures of such goods remain high.”
Citing a recent study, FICCI CASCADE said while cigarette smuggling has now become highly lucrative activity, it has caused 3.34 lakh job losses and urged for more active vigilance.
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Punjab goes after liquor mafia, over 8L litres lahan seized in less than a month
The clean-up operation against illicit liquor production and inter-state smuggling comes at a time when the state is staring at an annual loss of over Rs 600 crore in terms of non-collection of Excise Duty due to curbs to battle Covid-19.
In its crackdown against liquor mafia, the Punjab government has recovered 34,083 litres of illicit liquor in less than a month. Further, a whopping 8.32 lakh litres of lahan (raw material mixed for distillation of illicit liquor) and 1.16 lakh litres of licit liquor meant for smuggling has also been recovered as per figures available till Friday.
The drive, titled Operation Red Rose, has led to registration of 3,490 cases under the Excise Act, arrests of 2,664 accused. The clean-up operation against illicit liquor production and inter-state smuggling comes at a time when the state is staring at an annual loss of over Rs 600 crore in terms of non-collection of Excise Duty due to curbs to battle Covid-19.
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Cebu customs seize P76 million of ‘fake cigarettes’ from China
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Customs officials in Cebu seized at least 1,522 boxes of suspected fake cigarettes shipped from China, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) here announced.
In a statement on Facebook on Thursday, June 11, 2020, BOC – Cebu Port announced that the value of the alleged fake cigarettes amounted to P76 million.
The boxes containing the cigarette packs, they said, were found inside one container van. Based on the photos posted by BOC – Cebu Port, each box was stamped with an illustration of kitchen utensils such as cooking pots and oval dishes.
“The shipment, which was consigned to Giomab Trading and misdeclared as ‘oval dish,’ arrived from China on Wednesday, June 10, 2020,” the agency said.
Before the confiscation took place, BOC – Cebu said a Pre-Lodgment Control Order was issued upon the container after they received a “derogatory report” from its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.
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