Chennai: Two persons held at airport for smuggling gold worth 30 lakhs

Chennai:  Two persons were arrested at the airport in Chennai for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold worth Rs. 30 lakh from Sri Lanka today. Customs officials arrested the two hailing from Tamil Nadu after a check-up revealed they had concealed the precious metal in their body. A total of 900 grams of gold was recovered from the two passengers, who arrived from Colombo, official sources said. In another incident, two Nepali women were held by the immigration officials for allegedly possessing fake passports. A Nepali man was also detained for allegedly helping them, the sources said, adding they were handed over to the local police.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/chennai-two-persons-held-at-airport-for-smuggling-gold-worth-30-lakhs-462980

CBP Officers Intercept More Than 24,000 Counterfeit Headphones

Portal, N.D. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently targeted a rail container at the port of Portal, North Dakota. On November 16, CBP officers inspected the container and discovered headphones, manufactured in China, bearing the trademark “Beats.” CBP determined that the trademark was counterfeit, and seized 24,660 items with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $10,776,420. “Our CBP officers are working diligently at our ports of entry to protect businesses and consumers every day by combating the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods,” said Barbara Hassler, CBP assistant port director for Trade. “These seizures represent the commitment by CBP to protect the American consumer from receiving fraudulent, inferior and in many cases potentially dangerous products.” CBP is a key player in the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). Stopping the flow of illicit goods is a Priority Trade Issue for CBP. The importation of counterfeit merchandise can damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of the American people. With the growth of foreign trade, unscrupulous companies have profited billions of dollars from the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods.

Tobacco smuggling ring dismantled at Niagara bridges

Police and border officials have dismantled what they are calling a major tobacco smuggling network with ties to Niagara. The Hamilton/Niagara RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency announced this week that a number of people have been arrested in connection with a large contraband tobacco smuggling and trafficking operation allegedly responsible for smuggling in excess of 73 tonnes of un-stamped water pipe tobacco into Canada since 2010.  “Contraband tobacco is a threat to the security and health of Canadian citizens,” said Rick Comerford, CBDA spokesperson.  “People need to be aware that if they purchase contraband tobacco, they are funding criminal activity.”  A joint investigation was launched in 2011 after 1,440 kilograms of tobacco was seized at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie in July 2001 followed in October by a seizure of another 1,440 kilograms of tobacco at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge.  As the investigation progressed, police said, a larger smuggling organization was uncovered.

‘Sad day’ as drug smuggling cop sentenced

A west Auckland police officer who smuggled cannabis, tobacco and other items to prisoners was today sentenced to community work.  Lotovale Perese, who was a police officer for 13 years, gave items to 16 prisoners in Waitakere District Court holding cells on 77 occasions over a six-month period earlier this year.  Constable Perese, 42, appeared before the very court he was employed to police.  “It’s a sad day indeed to see you in the dock,” Judge David Wilson told him.  Perese was a police escort at Waitakere District Court for over two years when he started giving cannabis and other contraband to prisoners.  This included cigarettes, cigarette papers, lighters, cellphone, a SIM card and bottles of tattoo ink, Crown Prosecutor Lepeka Tatila said.

PD: Fake coupons used to steal from Target

PHOENIX — Police say they have arrested a woman who used fake, homemade coupons to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from Target stores around the Valley. Terry Darcy, 51, was taken into custody on Friday. She’s facing charges of theft by misrepresentation, possession of forged instruments and trafficking in stolen property. The investigation began six weeks ago after police were contacted by analysts from Target. The Target analysts suspected Darcy was using the fake coupons to get large quantities of products for free. Detectives with the Phoenix Police Business and Economic Stability Team (B.E.S.T.) immediately began gathering information and evidence including receipts and video surveillance footage. The investigation showed more than $175,000 in current loss to the business, but records also indicate the suspect may have been operating since 2008 and could have obtained more than $300,000 a year in fraudulent theft and returns.

Counterfeiting Operations: 7 arrested for fake bills

A counterfeiting operation that distributed more than $200,000 in fake $100 bills was brought down in part after phony money used at five Columbus-area stores was confiscated, police said. Four Indianapolis residents were arrested Dec. 1 on the southeast side of Columbus on forgery charges, accused of passing the fake bills in Edinburgh and Columbus. The counterfeiting activity, which occurred in recent months, took place primarily in central Indiana, police said. Additionally, a Columbus man was among three people arrested during a Dec. 10 raid at a home on the east side of Indianapolis, where counterfeit $100 bills, guns, ammunition and drug paraphernalia were discovered, said Gary Durham, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Indianapolis field office.