Amount of cigarettes smuggled from Russia to Estonia falls by over 5 times in 2013
In 2013, an average of 15.21 cigarettes were brought from Russia illegally to Estonia per person arriving from Russia to Estonia, which is 5.5 times less than in 2012, when the average was 84.47, as the state targeted law violators caught with small amounts of cigarettes at the border, LETA/Public Broadcasting. Over 2.4 million people entered from Russia to Estonia via three highway customs checkpoints, last year bringing an estimated 37 million illegal cigarettes, i.e. cigarettes with Russian tax labels that exceeded the allowed limit, to Estonia. Tax and Customs Board custom regulations department head Urmas Koidu said that in addition there are cigarettes imported in allowed limits, a large part of which are unfortunately sold too. “The fall has come primarily from the fact that starting the beginning of last year, violators were separately targeted, who were caught with small amounts of illegal cigarettes. For example, starting the beginning of 2013, no one has the right to just give up illegal cigarettes and proceedings are initiated regarding all violators, which in most cases results also in a fine,” explained Koidu.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=87973
Lear MoreCustoms authorities fight cigarette smuggling
Smuggling of cigarettes through the central sector of Moldovan – Ukrainian border was the most serious risks to border security on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border in 2013. To tackle this risk, representatives from customs and law enforcement agencies of Moldova and Ukraine got together at EUBAM headquarters for a Task Force Tobacco meeting. The aim of the meeting was to plan cooperative measures in fighting and preventing the illegal activity in the area of tobacco product smuggling. The participants discussed proposals concerning operational aspects of counteracting cigarettes smuggling in the region. EUBAM used the opportunity to present to the Moldovan and Ukrainian partners the EU multi-level approach. The Mission prepared the ground for further cooperation of Moldovan and Ukrainian colleagues with their international partners. This time the Ukrainian and Moldovan customs officers were joined by their EU colleagues from European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and HM Revenue and Customs (UK).
Lear MoreTop States for Cigarette Smuggling
A very large number of cigarettes sold in the United States are smuggled in and out of states, presumably to avoid taxes on the product. People apparently are willing to break the law to avoid these taxes. In several states, the smuggling of cigarettes has become an epidemic, biting into a major source of revenue. In five states, smuggled cigarettes are a third above those sold legally.
According to researchers at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, based on 2012 figures: The top smuggling rates in the nation are New York (56.9 percent); Arizona (51.5 percent); New Mexico (48.1 percent); Washington state (47.8 percent); and Wisconsin (35 percent). At the other end of the spectrum: The top five out-bound smuggling states are New Hampshire (25 percent); Wyoming (22.3 percent); Idaho (21.3 percent); and Delaware (20.9 percent). This means that for every 100 cigarettes legally consumed in New Hampshire, 25 were smuggled to neighboring states, such as Massachusetts.
http://247wallst.com/economy/2014/02/18/top-states-for-cigarette-smuggling/
Lear MoreAgri smuggling $10-B trade – study
MANILA, Philippines – In the 1980s, smuggling of agricultural commodities had evolved into a big-time illegal trade, with the value of such products estimated at $6 billion a year. As the volume of imported agricultural commodities increased in the 1990s, the magnitude of technical smuggling in the sector correspondingly expanded. By 2008, the value of smuggled agricultural items had ballooned to more than $10 billion annually. These lucrative activities have persisted to this day, indicating that government efforts to curb the illegal entry of such products have been ineffective. Internationally traded and smuggled into the country are milled rice, refined sugar, beef, onion, pork, chicken, ginger, carrots and turnips, according to a recent study titled “An Assessment of Smuggling of Selected Agricultural Commodities in the Philippines.”
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/02/16/1290917/agri-smuggling-10-b-trade-study
Lear MoreFifth person charged in plot to smuggle narwhal whale tusks into US, says Department of Justice
BANGOR, Maine — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that a fifth person had been charged in connection with a conspiracy to smuggle narwhal whale tusks into the U.S. from Canada. Eddie Thomas Dunn, 59, of Eads, Tenn., waived indictment and pleaded guilty in December 2011 to charges in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, Alaska, but the case was sealed until last month. Dunn, who is to be sentenced in March, has been free on bail for more than two years. Dunn pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to illegally sell wildlife and illegally selling wildlife. By pleading guilty, Dunn admitted that he and an unnamed co-conspirator paid Logan $126,000 for 135 tusks and resold them for $1.11 million in Alaska, Washington state, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee.
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Counterfeit Avastin shipped to Europe as well as US
Counterfeit versions of Roche’s cancer drug Avastin, which caused a stir in the US in 2012, were also shipped to the UK, Switzerland and Denmark, according to Turkish police. Further details have emerged from the enforcement operation towards the end of last year that resulted in 56 arrests across nine Turkish cities and the takedown of a medicines counterfeiting operation that focused on high-value oncology products and involved hospitals, wholesalers and at least 20 pharmacies. The illicit operation hit the headlines in 2012 after counterfeit versions of Altuzan – the Turkish brand name for Avastin – were intercepted in the US, but it has now been revealed that Egyptian and Syrian intermediaries were involved in shipments to Europe in previous years.
http://www.securingindustry.com/pharmaceuticals/fake-avastin-reached-europe-as-well-as-us/s40/a1966/
Lear More‘Operation Team Player’ nets more than $37 million in fake merchandise More than 70 people arrested; over 5,000 websites seized in coordination with NFL
WASHINGTON — Federal officials announced Thursday the final record-breaking results of Operation Team Player, the nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at combatting counterfeit sports merchandise. Special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teamed with officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to target, seize and investigate criminal businesses smuggling international shipments of counterfeit merchandise as it entered the United States. Agents also targeted warehouses, stores, flea markets, online stores and street vendors. The operation, which began in June, netted 397,140 items including fake jerseys, ball caps, T-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs. The items had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of more than $37.8 million – more than the previous six Super Bowl enforcement efforts combined. HSI and CBP also teamed with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and state and local police departments around the country – all in partnership with the NFL and other major sports leagues. The operation was coordinated by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C.
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Tobacco smugglers downsize to dodge Customs officers
The smugglers are bringing in consignments in vans and small trucks rather than relying on containers. And the changing trends have also resulted in a greater role for ‘ant smugglers’ — airline passengers who bring in a few hundred illicit cigarettes each without paying taxes. Many of the ant smugglers arrive here on flights from Eastern Europe where the scam in illegal goods is being masterminded by organised crime gangs.
Lear MoreSustaining Customs anti-smuggling agenda
Not much had been heard lately on the activities at the Tincan Island Port of the Nigeria Customs Service since Comptroller Tunji Aremu took over as the area controller of the busy port after serving as controller of Ports and Terminal Multi Services Limited, Apapa. The command with all its challenges however appeared to have performed creditably last year going by the testimonies of Aremu at a recent encounter with journalists. Aremu for instance, revealed that during the period under review, the command in its efforts to combat smuggling, impounded not fewer than 18 goods as a result of false declaration, under declaration. Some, he disclosed were prohibited items.
Lear MoreBrand-conscious, but faking it
KOLKATA: Sambit Chatterjee was wondering what to gift his girlfriend this Valentine’s Day. The second-year college student wanted to impress her with a gift that looked classy but suited his pocket. Sambit’s quest ended on Esplanade pavements when he found a Tommy Hilfiger watch for Rs 1,500! Of course Sambit knew it was fake. But the vendor at the Grand Arcade insisted all watches were ‘original’ and the price was low because they were smuggled into Kidderpore dock. “The only difference is you will not get a warranty certificate,” the vendor explained. The vendor quoted Rs 2,500 but settled for Rs 1,500 after a bout of bargaining.
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