$30 Million In Counterfeit Goods Seized In Lawrence Flea Market Raid
BOSTON (AP) — A recent flea market raid racked up more than $30 million in knock-off apparel and electronics, making it the largest counterfeit bust in Massachusetts, authorities said.
Authorities confiscated enough fake designer purses, clothing and pirated DVDs and CDs from two flea markets on May 10 to fill three tractor trailers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday.
Local businesses told police in January that illegal items were being sold at the flea markets, which have been open for years, said Lawrence interim Police Chief James Fitzpatrick.
“We didn’t expect it to be this wide-ranging,” he said. “We expected a couple dozen vendors, but I think they were ramping up for Mother’s Day.”
http://world.einnews.com/article/206236189/CscDWmkh6RkaTULh?n=1&code=AgcfkaVftQFfz4kH
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Prison guard denies smuggling charge
A long-serving Corrections officer has denied smuggling tobacco into Christchurch Men’s Prison. Raymond Heperi Harris, 60, resigned from his job in May last year after he was confronted with allegations he was supplying contraband to prisoners in exchange for cash. Corrections investigated and lodged a complaint with police. Harris was eventually charged with taking tobacco into the prison with the intention of giving it to inmates. The alleged offence is a breach of the Corrections Act. If found guilty Harris could be jailed for up to 3 months and fined $5000. This morning, a Christchurch District Court spokeswoman said Harris had plead not guilty to the charge.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10068094/Prison-guard-denies-smuggling-charge
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Gibraltar row: Spain hits back
Following rising tensions between Spain and the UK over Gibraltar the Spanish Government has hit back by accusing Britain of failing to tackle the sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border.
In a statement Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar has deteriorated. The criticism comes just a day after UK Europe Minister David Lidington denounced continued delays at the border and urged Spain to act on EC recommendations. Spain’s Jose Manuel García-Margallo claimed that tobacco seizures at the border with Gibraltar have increased 213% between 2010 and 2013. Reportedly, 97,146 cartons were seized in 2013 and the trend has continued this year, with 13, 781 cartons confiscated in the first two months of 2014.
https://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/gibraltar/item/120646-gibraltar-row-spain-hits-back
Lear MoreFCC says California website offered fake Samsung and BlackBerry phones
A California website has been selling fake phones that came with seemingly legitimate “FCC Identifiers,” but ones that were were not authorized by Samsung. An online retailer, Panaystem, marketed counterfeit versions of the “Galaxy S Duos” and “Galaxy Ace” and the BlackBerry model 9790, according to the enforcement wing of the Federal Communications Commission.
In a Tuesday announcement, the FCC claimed the devices offered by the California website contain bogus FCC identifiers — unique numbers that device makers must use to show their products meet technical specifications.
http://gigaom.com/2014/05/20/fcc-says-california-website-offered-fake-samsung-and-blackberry-phones/
Lear MoreGibraltar: Spain hits back at UK accusing the Rock of increased tobacco smuggling
The Spanish Government has accused Britain of failing to tackle a sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border. In a statement marking the six-month deadline set by the European Commission following its visit last year, Spain also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar had deteriorated.
The statement by the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs came a day after UK Europe Minister David Lidington denounced continued delays at the border and urged Spain to act on the EC recommendations. Spain has established, over the past few months, that the United Kingdom has to adopt the necessary measures to tackle smuggling,” the Spanish statement said. Cooperation with local Gibraltarian authorities, far from improving, unfortunately appears to be worsening.”
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Namibia: Police Seize N$14 Million Fake Goods
COUNTERFEIT goods worth N$14,5 million were confiscated by Windhoek police recently during a three-day operation code named ‘Wipe Out’, which targeted certain shops and individuals. Police spokesperson deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi said 41 376 imitation items of different well-known brands like Nike, Puma, Adidas, Leviss and Samsung were seized, while 20 detention notices were issued to suspects. Officials from the Interpol bureau, Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs and representatives of the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) and the private sector participated in the operation.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201405191109.html
Lear MoreLafayette Hill man charged for smuggling goods into U.S., pirating movies, TV shows
A Lafayette Hill man has been charged by indictment for smuggling goods into the United States, trafficking in counterfeit labels and criminal copyright infringement, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice. United States Attorney Zane David Memeger announced May 19 that Brian Bethman was charged on May 15. Between April 2010 and April 2011, Bethman smuggled in more than 6,000 audiovisual copies of movies and television shows that were protected by copyright, according to the indictment. The press release says the television shows included, but were not limited to: “House,” “Criminal Minds,” “NCIS,” “Weeds,” “The Office” and “Royal Pains”; the movies included, but were not limited to: “Justfied,” “The Pacific,” “Dead Like Me” and “Bambi.”
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2014/05/19/colonial_news/news/doc537a801608249078737064.txt
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Smuggling in the UAE: Counterfeit goods seeping into ports daily
A flurry of fake football shirts smuggled into Dubai ahead of the Fifa World Cup next month is the latest face of the booming counterfeit market. The shirts are just a fraction of a varied flow of goods seeping into UAE ports on a daily basis. Luxury handbags, watches, car parts, beauty products, electronics and clothing are among the most frequently smuggled fake items. Their prevalence has grown as the overall tide of goods into the country – and Dubai in particular – swells. Dubai Customs last month said it made 65 seizures of fake goods in the first quarter of the year, up from 59 seizures in the same period of last year. The value of the items seized rose from Dh2.4 million to Dh6.7m. Part of the rise in seizures can be attributed to the improving systems officials are deploying to detect smuggling.
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Spain Hits Back At Britain Over Border Smuggling
The Spanish Government has accused Britain of failing to tackle a sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border. In a statement marking the six-month deadline set by the European Commission following its visit last year, Spain also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar had deteriorated. The statement by the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs came a day after UK Europe Minister David Lidington denounced continued delays at the border and urged Spain to act on the EC recommendations. “Spain has established, over the past few months, that the United Kingdom has to adopt the necessary measures to tackle smuggling,” the Spanish statement said.
“Cooperation with local Gibraltarian authorities, far from improving, unfortunately appears to be worsening.” The Spanish ministry cited a recent incident in which a Guardia Civil officer was injured at sea while intercepting cigarette smugglers in British waters.
Drive against fake products intensified in Sharjah
The drive will continue throughout the year to control the market, rein in frauds and the sale of counterfeit, restoring consumers’ confidence in the emirate’s market. An intensified campaign launched by the Sharjah Economic Development Department to crack down on counterfeit products in the local markets has resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of fake goods and their subsequent destruction by the department. The haul included car spare parts and personal care items like perfumes and skin and hair creams. A senior officer at the department, who declined to be named, said the drive will continue throughout the year to control the market, rein in frauds and the sale of counterfeit, restoring consumers’ confidence in the emirate’s market. Besides inspection of markets and shopping centres to ensure they are not selling fake products, the department is also seeking to raise public awareness of duplicate products and the harms they can cause.
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