Capacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy, New Delhi
05/07/2019| New Delhi
Over some time now, trade in counterfeit, smuggled and pirated goods has developed into a substantial threat to the economy of our country and pose serious safety and security hazards to the society at large. Different government agencies are involved at various stages in tackling such crimes, right from detection, investigation, prosecution and prevention of these offences, often including the recovery of the proceeds of crime. The police department is the primary law enforcement agency in our country. With low barriers to market entry and infiltration, the police play a very significant role in ensuring the protection of right owners. There are adequate laws available but enforcement of the laws makes the role of police officers even more important in the fight against counterfeiters and smugglers.
FICCI CASCADE has been organizing capacity building programs for police officers in various states, focusing on economic offences such as counterfeiting, piracy and smuggling, equipping the officers to understand the laws and take requisite action against counterfeiters and smugglers. In pursuance of its agenda of sensitizing police officers on this issue, FICCI CASCADE organized a series of capacity building programmes for police officers on ‘Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy’ during June-July 2019 in Vizianagaram, Mysore, Chennai, Meghalaya and culminated it in New Delhi on 5th July, 2019.
A key objective of the program was to build capacities of the officials on seriousness of the socio-economic impact of counterfeited and smuggled goods and the practical aspects that has to be kept in mind by the officers while investigation of economic crimes. Over 250 police officers of the rank SIs, ASIs, DSPs, ACPs and DCPs participated in the training programme at Barakhamba Police Station, New Delhi.
Mr. Deep Chand, Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi and Advisor, FICCI CASCADE, in his address informed about FICCI CASCADE’s mandate of capacity building of law enforcement agencies including Judges, Police and Customs Officers, and how CASCADE had been working extensively and intensively in this area nationally, organizing training programmes and seminars along with continuous interactions with the law enforcement authorities to emphasize on the importance of increased awareness on the gravity of the problem.
Mr. Chand correlated smuggling and counterfeiting activity with the security challenge in different environments around the world. He cited various instances where illicit trade in goods is being increasingly used to fund anti-social and terrorist activities. Mr. Chand also urged that need of the hour today was tangible actions to increase enforcement, and to impose increased punishments. This is imperative to reassure legitimate business owners and consumers that the government is serious about protecting right owners, and this will, in turn, encourage greater support for government policies.
While deliberating on the topic, some of the challenges for police in addressing such crimes that were highlighted are:
• Capacity in terms of skill, infrastructure and technology amongst the law enforcement is not adequate.
• Since the police officers are fully occupied with the investigation of property offences and crime they have little exposure to economic offences and special provisions contained in the enforcement of the IP laws. Hence, it is not a priority for police officers.
• Lack of knowledge of legal provisions related to IP laws. This is necessary for efficient investigation and successful prosecution.
• Majority of the Investigation Officers do not have requisite training and are not comfortable with the investigation that involves such offences.
Mr. Suvashis Choudhary, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police, Economic Offence Wing, Delhi Police, chief guest at the programme said that, ‘”The fundamental work of the police is to safeguard life and property of the public, and to maintain law and order in the society. Counterfeiting and smuggling activities is a wire joint which encourages organized crimes. Traditional crimes like murder and terrorism are usually given importance however, economic crimes like counterfeiting and smuggling which affect our daily lives are not given due priority’. Mr. Choudhary thanked FICCI CASCADE for its initiative of sensitizing police officers on this pertinent issue and urged the industry to come forward and work collaboratively with the police to address this menace”.
The training session was also addressed by eminent lawyers, academicians and industry discussing on a wide range of concerns on the subject with the participating police officials. The programmes were supported by United States Patents and Trademark Office (USPTO). Mr. Timothy K. Browning, Attorney-Advisor, USPTO, Washington emphasized on the creation of a National Coordination Center to enforce IP laws and resolve issues arising out of this menace. He also said ‘‘USPTO stands for promoting strong and effective IP laws globally and we have collaborated with FICCI CASCADE to exchange best practices and new methods to counter crimes such as counterfeiting, smuggling and piracy.”
All speakers unanimously agreed on the fact that the existence and operation of smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy is not only broad in scope and large in value but is draining the global economy, causing losses to both industry & government, and most importantly adversely impacting the health and safety of the consumers. There is an urgent need to create communication, coordination and close cooperation amongst various government agencies, law enforcement officials and private sector to curb the growing scourge.
Customs seizes 19 kg of gold bars hidden in packets of dates.
Customs Department at Uran has seized a consignment in which gold bars concealed in packets of dates were being smuggled into the city from Iraq. The gold bars weighing 19 kg are valued at Rs 4.50 crore.
According to the sources in the Customs department, the case of smuggling first came to the notice of Container Scanning Division (CSD), which scans the containers and interprets the images inside the containers as ‘clean’ or ‘suspicious’.
The containers, which are thought to be suspicious, are marked for ‘100 per cent examination’ by the dog staff.
CSD, which is based at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House at Uran, had recently taken up a container of Iraqi dates, coming from a port in that country, for scanning.
“On analysing the image, it was found that some metal of high density was concealed inside the container. The container was then marked to the dog staff for examination. Once the dog staff too marked the image as suspicious, the said consignment was opened for examination.
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Fake goods worth millions confiscated in two EC busts.
The authorities have seized millions of rands worth of goods in two separate incidents at the Port of Ngqura and on the N2 to Cape Town.
In the first incident, the drama started when police received information about a shipping container destined for East London which was due to arrive at Ngqura.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said on Friday that members of the Border Police supported by members of the South African Revenue Services and accompanied by a shipping agent inspected the container on June 28.
“The container was full of different types of counterfeit goods worth a total of R45,553,400.”
The goods comprised 7,200 pairs of branded sunglasses valued at R10,800,000, 960 Tommy Hillfiger belts valued at R960,000, 52,000 Smooth Pens valued at R104,000, 360 Swiss Gear backpacks valued at R360,000, 400 Gucci sling bags valued at R360,0000, and 1,413 branded watches valued at R29,729,400.
https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2019-07-05-fake-goods-worth-millions-confiscated-in-two-ec-busts/
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NIA arrests man from Bengal in fake currency seizure case.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested an absconding accused in the Bhiwandi Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) seizure case from Malda district in West Bengal, an official said.
Sabir Jullur Rehman Ali was arrested from his hometown Safdarpur in Malda district, he said.
He was actively involved in procurement, trafficking and supply of counterfeit currency notes, he said.
Sabir Ali’s name had cropped during interrogation of other accused who were apprehended in 2018 from Bhiwandi in neighboring Thane district, the NIA official said.
Earlier, six people were arrested in connection with the seizure of 239 fake currency notes, all in denomination of Rs 2,000 and having a face value of Rs 4.78 lakh, in Bhiwandi, he said.
The accused were identified as Rehan Shaikh, Shafahad Ansari, Anees Shaikh, Kishor Fular and Rohit Singh (all held from Bhiwandi) and Samir Kalicharan Mandal (arrested from West Bengal), he said.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nia-arrest-bengal-fake-currency-1562383-2019-07-05
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Over 6 Kg Smuggled Gold Worth 2.17 Crore Rupees Seized in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: Gold weighing over 6 kg and valued at Rs 2.17 crore was seized from 14 passengers who arrived here from a gulf nation after performing Umrah, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said on Wednesday.
According to a DRI release, the gold was smuggled into the country on Tuesday by concealing “on person” and the accused did not have any documents to prove the legal import of the yellow metal.
The total weight of the foreign gold recovered and seized under Customs Act, 1962, is 6.46 kg worth around 2.17 crore, it said.
Explaining the modus operandi, the sleuths said the economically disadvantaged people who wanted to perform Umrah (pilgrimage) in Saudi Arabia were lured by agents, who sponsored their trip.
During the return journey, the passengers were asked to carry gold, which would be collected by someone on the instructions of the agents.
Gullible pilgrims were blackmailed by agents in Saudi Arabia with consequences of penalty or recovery of full charge of Umrah should they not act as per instructions.
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More than 40,000 illicit cigarettes seized from high street store.
More than 40,000 illicit cigarettes and nearly 5kg of rolling tobacco have been seized in a sting operation by Waltham Forest Council and HMRC. On first inspection of the 98p Plus Extra shop in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, officers confiscated more than 11,000 cigarettes and 1.68kg of rolling tobacco which violated UK legal requirements for labelling and packaging tobacco products. During a later inspection, Waltham Forest Trading Standards discovered another 30,020 illicit cigarettes and 3.65kg of foreign rolling tobacco that violated tobacco products regulations. On June 13, Mr Salim Ahmed, director of Bismillah London Ltd, the company owning the shop, pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates court to ten charges brought by Waltham Forest Trading Standards for the sale of illicit tobacco products. Mr Ahmed previously stated he received the tobacco from an unknown eastern European man who persuaded him to sell it to boost his profit margins and he said he had not inspected the cigarettes purchased.
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Customs officials seize US$61,450 worth of counterfeit goods on truck entering Hong Kong from mainland China.
Hong Kong’s customs officers have seized about 2,000 suspected counterfeit items, ranging from shoes and watches to sunglasses, worth about HK$480,000 (US$61,450). The Customs and Excise Department said in a statement on Tuesday that its officers intercepted a truck coming into Hong Kong from the mainland at the Man Kam To Control Point last Thursday. The contraband was found in the truck’s cargo compartment. The driver, a 58-year-old man, was arrested. “The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further inquiries,” the department said. In Hong Kong, importing or exporting counterfeit items is a violation of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of HK$500,000 and five years in prison. Counterfeit items are a common sight in shops and street market stalls across the city, particularly in tourist hotspots such as Temple Street.
Lear MoreMMEA Pahang foils attempt to smuggle in 2,000 cartons of cigarettes.
KUANTAN: The Pahang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,000 cartons of cigarettes worth RM300,000 including taxes in water off Kuala Rompin near here, last Friday. Pahang MMEA deputy director (operations) Capt V. Pannir Selvan said the Force 10– and Double 7– branded cigarettes were believed to have been abandoned at Pantai Batu 7, Kuala Rompin by two male suspects upon realising the presence of the authorities. He said the 11.30pm raid was carried out following six months of intelligence–gathering as well as tip–offs from the public. “Two men on a fiberglass boat were believed to be transferring the smuggled cigarettes into a lorry waiting at the roadside, but as soon as they realised the MMEA’s presence, the two men sped off in the boat. The MMEA boat pursued them, but could not catch up.
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Hologram trade body claims 86% of US counterfeit goods now come from China.
In a Global Impacts Study, by the International Chamber of Commerce it says the global value of counterfeit and pirated goods could be $1.77 trillion.
Dr Mark Deakes, general secretary, IHMA, told BeverageDaily, the US report is a sobering reminder the war on counterfeiting remains far from won and is a wake-up call for those desperate to protect brands and profits around the world.
“More action needs to be taken quickly if the tidal wave of Chinese counterfeit goods flooding onto the market is ever to be checked, let alone stopped,” he said.
In the drinks industry alone, hologram counterfeit preventative packaging is on the rise. This year saw the launch of a hologram cap byKISICO and Morphotonix.
The hologram design is integrated into the production process of the cap, and includes nanotechnology protection against counterfeiting and a tamper evident ring.
Canadian company CCL Label has developed patented technology to supply holographic labels to customers with 3D effects.
3D Optical Variable Device
Toronto-based CCL said its 3D OVD (optical variable device) technology – situated at its plant in Holzkirchen, Germany – uses a printing process for all sub-microscopic gratings (including holograms) to be produced and applied in-line with other print.
And, API which makes foils, laminates and holographs for brand enhancement and packaging protection for the snacks, beverage and confectionery industry expanded in the UK and Poland last year.
Deakes added, the hologram trade body wants organizations to urgently review and step up its security plans to stem the ‘tidal wave’ of counterfeit goods flooding out of China.
“More needs to be done – and quickly – to begin to deal with the problem and this might include increased integration of holograms as part of brand protection strategies,” he said.
Increasing adoption of holography in places like India and east Europe reinforces the hologram’s position as a pre-eminent security feature in the global anti-counterfeiting fight.
Lear MoreDRI: Gang smuggled Rs 1,000 crore gold in eight months till racket was busted.
MUMBAI: Directorate Revenue of Intelligence (DRI), probing the 110kg gold smuggling case, involving businessmen from Mumbai and Kerala, revealed that the gang smuggled more than 3,000kg of gold worth Rs 1,000 crore in eight months. A DRI official said the accused smuggled gold in 24 consignments from July last year to March this year, when the racket was busted and 14 persons were arrested. “During scrutiny, it transpired that the syndicate smuggled 3,396kg gold, which is one of the biggest seizures in recent years. Hence, the accused were detained under stringent sections of Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Act (COFEPOSA),” said a source. As Bombay high court said COFEPOSA was not applicable on technical grounds last week, DRI will move the Supreme Court on Monday. Officials said if the accused are released, they may smuggle gold again.
DRI has so far confiscated nine cars, Rs 2 crore, and 185kg gold worth Rs 60 crore. They will confiscate properties of the main players, Dubai businessman Nisar Aliyar, jeweller ‘Happy Dhakkad’, Manoj Jain, financier Ashfaq Shiningwala, hawala operator Aquil Fruitwala and Shoeb Zoradarwala. DRI is also writing to Enforcement Directorate as the accused have diverted proceeds of the crime to accounts outside the country too.