Customs officials seize stash of fake iPhone components in Hong Kong.
$120,000 of knockoff parts for iPhones and other handsets have been seized by customs officials in Hong Kong. The parts were being used to repair handsets sent in from countries including the United States, U.K. and Australia. The director and manager of the company were arrested during a raid on the company’s offices in the city of Tuen Mun. The offices were being used as a workshop and warehouse. One hundred phones sent in for repairs were found onsite. “Inside the 5,000 sq ft unit, about 3,900 counterfeit phones and parts bearing the brands of Apple iPhone and Samsung were also confiscated, along with some machinery. The parts included phone screens and enclosures. The company hired three workers to carry out the repairs, but the local men were not arrested in the operation.” Investigating officials say that the repair work included replacing cracked screens and damaged enclosures. They are still investigating the source of the fake goods. In Hong Kong, the maximum punishment for selling counterfeit goods is five years in prison and a fine of $60,000.
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Counterfeit and smuggled consumer goods worth $3.5 million seized across Americas and Caribbean.
An Interpol-backed crackdown on counterfeit and smuggled consumer goods across the Americas and Caribbean has resulted in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of potentially dangerous items. Operation Maya III saw law enforcement agencies in Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama carry out a series of raids and inspections on markets, shops and at borders. In total, investigators participating in the effort, which took place back in April, confiscated some 746,000 items estimated to be worth around $3.5 million. The operation also resulted in the identification of 150 individuals and 65 companies suspected of being involved in the sale and distribution of smuggled and counterfeit consumer items. As part of the crackdown, law enforcement agents in Cuba seized 8,000 contraceptive pills that were destined for Venezuela, while their counterparts in the Dominican Republic impounded 1,700 units of suspected adulterated alcohol that is believed to have been smuggled into the country from Haiti.
Lear MoreCapacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy, Mysore
17/06/2019| Karnataka Police Academy, Mysore
‘‘Karnataka Police Academy has been committed to this cause for a long time and it is on their agenda to train the officers on such crimes. The effects of crimes such as counterfeiting and smuggling have a gestation period and only grows with time, hence severe and deterrent actions needs to be taken against such criminal activities’’, said Mr. Vipul Kumar, IPS, Director, Karnataka Police Academy chief guest at the capacity building programme organised by FICCI CASCADE on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy at Karnataka Police Academy, Mysore on June 17, 2019. FICCI CASCADE has been sensitizing enforcement officers on the issue of counterfeiting and smuggling and equipping them to understand and take requisite actions against such crimes.
Prof. Jagadish AT, Assistant Professor, JSS Law College, Mysuru, Mr. Timothy K. Browning, Attorney- Advisor, US Patents and Trademarks Office, Washington, Mr. Prashanth S Shivadass, Advocate, Shivadass and Shivadass Law Chambers, Mr. Milind Palany, Senior Manager, Global Brand Protection, India & South Asia, Johnson and Johnson, Mr. Madhuresh Singh, Head-Legal, Puma and Ms. Divya Srikanth, Assistant Legal Manager, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. joined Mr. Kumar in deliberating their concerns on illicit trade and finding ways to mitigate the growing challenges of counterfeiting and smuggling. This capacity building programme sensitized the police officers on the importance of continued awareness and seriousness of the impact of counterfeited and smuggled goods. More than 80 officers participated in the training programme.
Capacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy, Vizianagaram
14/06/2019| Police Training College, Vizianagaram
Illicit trading practices such as smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy are not only causing huge losses to the government and industry, but it has significant economic and health & safety consequences for the society at large. FICCI CASCADE in order to address this issue organised a capacity building programme on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy at Police training College, Vizianagaram on June 14, 2019. Mr. D. Rama Chandra Raju, Principal, Police Training College, Vizianagaram in his inaugural address said that ‘‘The police is a primary law enforcement agency and have a significant role to play in fighting the menace of smuggling and counterfeiting. Although counterfeiting and smuggling was looked at as a victimless crime, it had many far-reaching consequences and it is extremely important for a police officer to understand the consequences before taking actions on ground. Only then will an officer investigating a case related to smuggling and counterfeiting be able to understand and take suitable actions”. Mr. Raju commended FICCI CASCADE for taking this maiden initiative in Andhra Pradesh for training police officers on the critical area of illicit trade.
Eminent speakers from the industry and legal experts such as Dr. P. Tirumala, Associate Professor, Lendi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Mr. Timothy K. Browning, Attorney-Advisor, US Patents and Trademarks Office, Washington, Mr. C N S P Krishna Rao, Advocate, Mr. Milind Palany, Senior Manager, Global Brand Protection, India & South Asia, Johnson and Johnson, Mr. Akshay Sangwan, Manager -Brand Protection and Legal Affairs, Puma and Ms. Shakthi Priya, Legal Consultant, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. also discussed and deliberated on various aspects police officer needs to keep in mind while investigating cases of smuggling and counterfeiting. The training programme was enthusiastically attended by over 90 officers, and it observed a deliberate discussion and an interactive platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences in the enforcement of laws and practices while dealing with counterfeiters and smugglers.
Customs officials seize smuggled cigarettes worth Rs 55 lakh
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and customs officials seized imported cigarettes to the tune of Rs 55 lakh at Surat railway. DRI and Customs officials had received information about the smuggled cigarettes that had been brought into the city in Howrah-Ahmedabad Express train. The consignment of the cigarettes was kept in the coach reserved for angadia parcels. The officials checked the entire train under the supervision of Customs superintendent Ghanshyam Soni. The cigarettes were brought to the Diamond City in boxes and were to be supplied to Asif Shaikh, official sources said.
http://www.dri.nic.in/writereaddata/4084213_2019-06-20.pdf
Lear MoreCustoms officials seize smuggled cigarettes worth Rs 55 lakh.
SURAT: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs officials seized imported cigarettes to the tune of Rs55 lakh at Surat railway station on Thursday. DRI and Customs officials had received information about the smuggled cigarettes that had been brought into the city in Howrah-Ahmedabad Express train. The consignment of the cigarettes was kept in the coach reserved for angadia parcels. The officials checked the entire train under the supervision of Customs superintendent Ghanshyam Soni. The cigarettes were brought to the Diamond City in boxes and were to be supplied to Asif Shaikh, official sources said. An officer said, “We have seized the consignment of smuggled cigarettes. We could not find the person who brought the consignment. However, it was found that the consignment was to be delivered to Asif Shaikh in Surat. Investigations are on to find out the real owner of the consignment.”
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Police Seize 5,000 Pieces of Counterfeit Products.
The Directorate of Interpol and International Relations has in a joint operation intercepted 5,000 pieces of counterfeit products. Acting Director Interpol and International Relations, SCP Benson Oyo-Nyeko told the media at Interpol headquarters Kololo on Thursday that the two-day operation codenamed ‘FAGIA COPSON IV’ was carried out in Kampala Metropolitan Area starting on Wednesday. Oyo-Nyeko revealed that counterfeit items including; hardware products, cosmetics, beverages, electronics and petroleum products seized among others had been seized. Oyo-Nyeko said counterfeit products pose a huge danger to the population and the country at large as they affect both the economy as well as the health of final consumers. He noted that there are huge amounts of such products in the open market. He, however, assured the public on the fight against counterfeit. “I wish to state our commitment to ensuring that brands are protected and the safety of consumers guaranteed. It’s an offense to produce such products,” Oyo-Nyeko said.
https://kampalapost.com/index.php/news/police-seize-5000-pieces-counterfeit-products
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Busted: How a New Jersey Woman Smuggled Airline Parts Into Iran.
A New Jersey woman faces up to five years in prison for her role in a scheme to smuggle airline parts illegally into Iran. Joyce Eliabachu pleaded guilty on Tuesday to playing a pivotal role in smuggling over $2,000,000 in airline parts to desperate Iranian airlines. As tensions between the USA and Iran have soured and sanctions have been re-introduced, Iranian airlines are once again starved for spare parts for their aging fleets. Boeing and Airbus deals to Iran Air and other Iranian carriers have been blocked, meaning older aircrafts must be kept airworthy. Eliabachu ran the operation from her Morristown home, about 30 minutes west of Newark International Airport. Parts were first shipped to Turkey, then to the United Abab Emirates, and finally to Iran. Between 2015-2017, 49 shipments containing 23,554 license-controlled aircraft parts reached Iran. Her co-conspirator, Peyman Amiri Larijani, faces money laundering and conspiracy charges.
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2019/06/12/iran-air-smuggling/
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Smuggled cigarettes worth Rs1 crore seized from godown in Mumbai.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 60 smuggled cartons of cigarettes of foreign brands worth Rs 1 crore from the godown of a courier firm in south Mumbai on Tuesday and arrested its owner. The DRI officers raided the godown, located at Chira Bazar on Monday and found 29 bags containing the cartons, which had 6.73 lakh cigarette sticks. The accused, Bipin Kumar Singh, was then arrested on Tuesday. According to the DRI, the smuggled cigarettes are sold for overpriced rates in Indian market. During interrogation, Singh told the DRI officers that he had received the cargo from a businessman in Delhi. Singh has been sent into judicial custody by a local court. The DRI officers are finding out how the cigarettes were smuggled to India by the Delhi trader. “Some cartons were to be delivered in Hyderabad, while some others in Mumbai. The bags were marked accordingly. The bags were sent to Mumbai from train. It did not contain a bill or an invoice,” an officer from DRI said.
Lear MoreMen arrested by Delhi airports customs for smuggling mobiles worth Rs. 63 Lakh
Aman has been arrested by Customs officials at the Delhi airport for allegedly trying to smuggle mobile phones, including iPhones, worth Rs 63 lakh into the country. A man has been arrested by Customs officials at the Delhi airport for allegedly trying to smuggle mobile phones, including iPhones, worth Rs. 63 lakh into the country.
The accused was intercepted after his arrival from Guangzhou in China on Tuesday. His flight was via Colombo.His baggage and personal search resulted in the recovery of 204 illegally imported mobile phones of different brands such as iPhones of Apple, Samsung, Sony, BlackBerry, a statement issued Monday by Customs department said.
https://www.ndtv.com/topic/smuggling
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