The Peelamedu police on Tuesday registered a case against the manager of a private bar at Goldwins in Coimbatore on charges of selling liquor before the permitted time. The case has been registered against Suresh Babu, 49, a native of Vannarpet at Coonoor in the Nilgiris, who has been working as the manager of a roof-top bar attached to a popular restaurant at Goldwins. The police said that the bar served liquor before 11 a.m. on Tuesday and violated the permitted time. The police arrested him and released on bail. The police seized 130 bottles of liquor from the bar.
Shop closed down after selling illegal cigarettes
A convenience store has been ordered to close after selling illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes. Durham County Council secured the closure of Shop & Go in Annfield Plain for three months, following a court order.
A total of 246 cigarettes, 106 pouches of 50g (1.8oz) hand-rolling tobacco and 187 vapes were seized. The cigarettes, tobacco and vapes were without the correct packaging and health warnings. The shop was shut down after two test purchases and several inspections. During one of the inspections, the items were found in the engine compartment of a car next to the shop.
Gary Carr, Durham County Council’s strategic regulation manager, said illicit tobacco had a “detrimental impact on our communities”.
‘Gap-in-wall’ gold smugglers nabbed at Chennai airport
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Chennai international airport spotted a small package being dropped from the executive lounge one floor above, overlooking the check-in area, and a passenger catching it discreetly. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers were promptly alerted and began a probe into the matter. The AIU’s investigation revealed an elaborate gold smuggling operation, which allegedly involved a gang of five: three departing passengers, one transit passenger, a receiver outside the airport, and most importantly, the gap between a glass pane and the adjacent wall inside the lounge.
A well-coordinated smuggling operation was intercepted at Chennai International Airport. A transit passenger passed 550 grams of 24-carat gold paste, worth about ₹35 lakh, to another individual near the toilets. Customs officials apprehended three departing passengers and the receiver, though the transit passenger escaped. The gold paste was seized under the Customs Act. The operation exploited looser security in the departure area and the absence of restrictions on gold carried by departing passengers. Vigilance has been increased following this incident.
20,000 litres of liquor seized in Gurgaon since Model Code of Conduct came into effect
The Gurgaon administration in Haryana has seized 20,104 litres of illegal liquor worth Rs 61.16 lakh since the Lok Sabha elections 2024 Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect on March 16, said officials.
As of May 16, the police department had seized 17,174 litres of illegal liquor worth Rs 53 lakh and filed 370 FIRs. Meanwhile, the enforcement team seized 2,930 litres of illegal liquor worth about Rs 7.7 lakh and filed 11 FIRs against those found violating the poll code.
Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav said five flying squad teams are working in each Assembly area to ensure that the election process remains legal. Voting in the district will be held on May 25 during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024. Union minister and sitting MP Rao Inderjit Singh of the BJP is up against Raj Babbar of the Congress in Gurgaon, one of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.
300 liquor bottles seized after surprise inspection
The UT excise department has seized 300 bottles of illicit liquor during a surprise inspection on Saturday. During the inspection of a vend, the enforcement team confiscated a total of 300 bottles of Indian Foreign Liquor (IFL), valued at approximately Rs 7 lakh. These bottles were found without the
mandatory hologram or pass permit. Excise and taxation commissioner Rupesh Kumar emphasized the department’s commitment to maintaining strict vigilance.
He stated, “There will be no leniency towards any violations. The department is dedicated to enforcing the rules rigorously, and those found breaching the regulations will face strict action.”
Recently, the department has released a helpline number 0172-2990301, on which residents can complain about any poll-linked violation.
ECI seizes cash, liquor and other material worth about ₹302 crore since March 1 in Andhra Pradesh
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has seized cash, liquor and other material, all worth nearly ₹301.75 crore, between March 1 to May 18 as part of enforcing Election Seizure Management System in Andhra Pradesh.
As per the statistics released by the ECI on May 18 (Saturday), the worth of seizures across the country stood at ₹8,890 crore.
The break-up of the seizures in the State is as follows: cash of ₹85.32 crore, liquor (13,64,654.36 litres) costing ₹43.17 crore, drugs worth ₹5.7 crore, precious metals such as gold and silver worth ₹142.56 crore, and freebies and other items worth ₹25 crore.
However, Gujarat leads the chart in the country with a total seizure of ₹1,462 crore, which includes cash of ₹8.61 crore, liquor worth ₹29.76 crore, drugs worth ₹1,187.8 crore, precious metals worth ₹128.56 crore, and freebies costing ₹107 crore.
Fake Currency Notes Worth ₹ 1.85 Lakh Seized, 1 Arrested: Cops
Guwahati: The police in Assam have seized fake currency notes worth ₹ 1,85,000 and also arrested one person in this connection, an official said on Thursday (13th May). An official said that the Special Task Force (STF) conducted an operation based on specific input in the Puberun Path area in Guwahati. One person identified as Shazarul Islam, 30, was arrested.
NT$10 million worth of contraband cigarettes seized by Taiwan’s coast guard
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) A total of 164,000 packs of contraband cigarettes, valued at nearly NT$10 million (US$311,369), were seized by a patrol squad from a hidden compartment in a fishing vessel during an inspection on Wednesday evening, according to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).
After boarding the fishing vessel, coast guard marine inspectors noticed that a machine was placed in an unusual position on the deck, said Hsieh Yu-mao (謝祐懋), a deputy director at the Patrol Command Two of the CGA’s Northern Branch, which oversees the northern waters around Taiwan’s main island.
They discovered a hidden compartment after moving the machine and, using a handheld X-ray machine and a detection dog, found 164,000 packs of cigarettes stored in 328 boxes, valued at nearly NT$10 million, Hsieh added.
Twitter Space with Mr. Suvashis Choudhary, Former Joint Commissioner of Police, Chief Security Commissioner, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Think Tank Member, FICCI CASCADE
16th May 2024 at 7: 00 pm
FICCI CASCADE organized a X (Twitter) Space programme featuring Mr. Suvashis Choudhary, Former Joint Commissioner of Police, Chief Security Commissioner, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Think Tank Member, FICCI CASCADE on the “Need for a consumer voice to combat Illicit Trade” on Thursday, 16th May 2024. The discussion, led by Mr. Choudhary, provided valuable insights into the global landscape of illicit trade, emphasizing the impact of advancing technologies such as cryptocurrency, cyber threats, and artificial intelligence (AI), alongside public awareness campaigns and collaborative initiatives to curb illicit activities.
Mr. Choudhary adeptly underscored the detrimental consequences of consuming counterfeit goods, which pose severe risks including accidents, injuries, and fatalities. He delineated the jurisdictional hurdles faced by enforcement agencies, elaborating on how these transnational criminal networks exploit encrypted communication channels and dark web marketplaces to evade detection. Moreover, he provided a comprehensive analysis of the role of Information Technology (IT) and AI, highlighting their dual functionality in both detecting and enabling illicit trade, while spotlighting the challenges cryptocurrency presents in tracing illegal activities.
The discourse illuminated the imperative for robust international cooperation and inter-agency collaboration, stressing the indispensable role of social media influencers in amplifying public awareness. He lauded initiatives such as FICCI CASCADE for their pivotal role in safeguarding public safety and economic stability. Furthermore, Mr. Choudhary emphasized the criticality of consumer vigilance, advising consumers to patronize reputable vendors and validate product authenticity directly with manufacturers when uncertainties arise.
The session facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas and strategies among participants, fostering constructive dialogue aimed at mitigating the scourge of illicit trade and fortifying socio-economic interests on a global scale.
The virtual program garnered exceptional enthusiasm, drawing participation from an impressive cohort of 19,000 attendees worldwide.
Overall, the session served as a catalyst for collective action, galvanizing stakeholders towards concerted efforts in combating illicit trade and fortifying global resilience against its pernicious impacts.
Passenger arrested with foreign cigarettes worth Rs. 2.1m at BIA
Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake have seized a large consignment of smuggled cigarettes, valued at around Rs. 2.1 million, and arrested a suspect at the arrival terminal this morning (15).
The arrested suspect has been identified as a 36-year-old businessman residing in Colombo 13.
The passenger in question had arrived from Mumbai, India onboard a SriLankan Airlines flight at 10.15 p.m. last night (14), however he had remained at the airport’s duty-free shopping complex until this morning and was arrested while attempting to exit the airport.
A total of 105 cartons containing 21,000 sticks of foreign-manufactured cigarettes were found concealed in his luggage.
The arrested passenger has been released on police bail and is scheduled to appear before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on May 22.
https://www.adaderana.lk/news/99233/passenger-arrested-with-foreign-cigarettes-worth-rs-21m-at-bia