Author: adminficci

7 July 2023| Doranda , Ranchi

Over the course of its existence, FICCI CASCADE has fostered close collaborations with governmental bodies, industrial stakeholders, enforcement authorities, legal professionals, consumer groups, and the youth to generate awareness about the detrimental effects of counterfeiting and smuggling on our economy, health and safety. In addition to various initiatives, FICCI CASCADE consistently interacts with law enforcement agencies, encompassing the police, customs, and paramilitary organizations involved in border safeguarding.

FICCI CASCADE organized a Capacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling on 7th July 2023 at Doranda, Ranchi. The programme was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr. Anoop Birtharay, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand, who attended as the chief guest. Addressing the Capacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling he stated that illicit trade in terms of smuggling and counterfeiting are adversely impacting the legitimate economic activity of the country. It deprives the government’s revenues for investment in vital public services, dislocating millions of legitimate jobs and causing irreversible damage to public health and safety.

Mr. Birtharay emphasized the need for capacity building programs aimed at enhancing the skills, infrastructure, and technology of law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to detect and investigate crimes related to counterfeiting and smuggling. Mr. Birtharay highlighted the necessity of coordinated efforts among the government, industry bodies, and enforcement agencies to effectively combat the expanding threat.

Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi opined that the escalating prevalence of smuggling and counterfeiting presents a substantial hazard to economies that are knowledge-driven, open, and interconnected. He underlined the importance of the police department in upholding both the national security and economic welfare of the nation. This encompasses thwarting criminal enterprises from profiting through illicit endeavours and ensuring a secure environment for lawful businesses to operate.

Mr. Avinash Sinha, Regional Manager, Industry Affairs (East), ITC Ltd. stated that within the realm of illicit and smuggled items, cigarettes have risen to prominence as an exceptionally profitable commodity. This category has experienced a significant surge, marking a substantial increase in recent times, and it now constitutes a third of the legal cigarette market within the nation. This situation necessitates a more vigilant action and stringent enforcement measures to effectively control the proliferation of illegal cigarettes across India, he elaborated.

Mr. Milind Palany, Senior Manager, Global Brand Protection, Southern Asia and ANZ Cluster, Kenvue emphasized that there exists a pressing demand for law enforcement entities to possess comprehensive resources and expertise to effectively shield consumers from the inherent hazards linked with illicit trade practices.

The programme witnessed an enthusiastic engagement from over 85 police officers of Jharkhand Police. The capacity building initiative aimed to equip the officers with in-depth knowledge and effective strategies to combat these illicit trade activities.

The oil tanker was intercepted at Saraiya toll plaza. During inspection, the driver of the tanker claimed that there was only oil inside the tanker but the officers thoroughly checked it, and a huge cache of liquor was found in it.

“The SHO of Saraiya police station and his team intercepted the oil tanker and recovered 4200 litres of liquor inside it. We have registered a FIR under relevant sections of liquor prohibition act and arrested the driver. His interrogation is underway to find out who brought the liquor consignment. We have learnt that the liquor was to be distributed somewhere in Saraiya,” said Kumar Chandan, the SDPO of Muzaffarpur.

In another incident, the Arwal police arrested two persons for smuggling liquor in a truck. A team headed by the Kaler police station SHO initiated a vehicle checking campaign in the Dilawarpur area of the district. During the checking, the liquor consignment worth Rs 70 lakh was seized from the truck.

https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1097565

6th July 2023 | St. Jones High School, Karbala Tank Road, Ranchi

FICCI CASCADE organized an Awareness Programme on “Breaking the Chains of Illicit Trade: Seminar to Curb Counterfeiting and Smuggling” on 6th July 2023 at St. Jones High School, Karbala Tank Road, Ranchi. The seminar provided a platform for in-depth discussions concerning the heightened significance of raising awareness about the perils associated with counterfeiting and smuggling. Moreover, the seminar highlighted the need for robust enforcement measures to boost India’s economic growth and development.

Mr. Ajay Kumar Singh, IPS, Director General of Police, Jharkhand was the chief guest at the programme. While addressing the programme, he stated that counterfeiting and smuggling pose substantial risks to consumer health and safety, such awareness programs will play a pivotal role in educating consumers about the dangers posed by counterfeit and smuggled products, empowering them to make informed choices and protect themselves from potential harm. By fostering awareness and promoting a culture of vigilance, we can ensure that consumers are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and avoid counterfeit and smuggled goods, ultimately enhancing their safety and well-being, added Mr. Singh.

Mr. Singh emphasized that educating and raising awareness about the detrimental consequences of counterfeiting and smuggling is the pressing need of the hour in order to effectively combat this widespread menace on a global scale. He further suggested FICCI CASCADE to organize such youth awareness program in Jharkhand more frequently to motivate the youth of the state in achieving our objective in making India free from illicit trade.

Mr. Kishor Kaushal, IPS, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi stated that awareness is important in eradicating the escalating threat of illicit trade that affects our daily lives, it is crucial to address this issue as a top priority. The official stressed avoiding the purchase of cheap products and instead opting for genuine products. Mr. kaushal urged that consumers must obtain a receipt while making purchases as a means of safeguarding themselves against unscrupulous market operators.

Mr. P C Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs accentuated that the pervasive nature of illicit trade is giving rise to a multitude of significant ramifications for our country. This issue demands serious attention, as it not only results in substantial fiscal losses but also poses substantial threats to the health and well-being of our citizens. It is imperative to pursue initiatives aimed at fostering awareness to effectively counter illicit trade.

Mr. Rajiva Ranjan Verma, Former Director General, RPF, NCRB, Civil Defense, Home Guard & Fire Services and BPR&D opined that vigorously pursuing heightened awareness stands as a crucial strategy in the fight against illicit trade, encompassing both smuggling and counterfeiting. Additionally, he underscored the pivotal role of youth in combating the challenges posed by smuggling and counterfeiting, highlighting its utmost significance.

Mr. Verma proposed a vote of thanks to all the esteemed guests and delegates, while highlighting that FICCI CASCADE is actively involved in disseminating awareness about the threats posed by counterfeiting and smuggling to public health and safety.

6th July 2023| Ranchi, Jharkhand

In our pursuit to make India free from the clutches of smuggling and counterfeiting, the active engagement of today’s youth emerges as a central and catalytic force. FICCI CASCADE acknowledges the importance of enlisting the younger generation in its awareness campaign, envisioning their potential to instigate significant transformations throughout society. With a focus on generating large scale awareness and engaging in outreach initiatives, FICCI CASCADE underscores their essential role in nurturing a proactive approach to address the mounting hazards posed by counterfeiting and smuggling.

A competition aimed at youth, centered around the theme titled ” Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting,” was successfully organized on 6th July 2023 at St. Jones High School, Karbala Tank Road, Ranchi. The programme encompassed three distinct competitions: Painting, Elocution, and Jingle Writing. This engaging initiative garnered tremendous enthusiasm, with a remarkable turnout of over 300 young participants hailing from 35 prominent schools in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The competition was designed to generate awareness within the youth and seek their support in effectively addressing the escalating dangers posed by counterfeiting and smuggling.

The elocution competition was judged by Ms. Dolly Jaiswal, Assistant Teacher, B.S.P School, Ranchi; Ms. Preeti Pandey, Government Teacher Training College, Bariatu and Mr. Dhruv kumar Pandey, +2 High School, Kanke, Ranchi. The painting competition was judged by Dr. Zakir Hussain, Assistant Teacher; Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya, +2 High School, Umedanda , Ranchi; Ms. Rajni Sen, Balika Shiksha Bhawan High School, Lalpur, Ranchi and Mr. Siyon Minz, Para Teacher Upgraded Middle School, Arsande, Kanke , Ranchi. The jingle writing competition was judged by Mr. Anand Prakash Mishra, Assistant Teacher, Model School, kanke, Ranchi, Mr. Paritosh Chaudhary, P.G.T Marwari +2 High School, Ranchi and Ms. Indraneel Mukherjee, P.G.T +2 High School, Rahe, Ranchi.

Winners of the competition were:

The competitions showcased an array of ingenious ideas, innovative expressions, talents, and captivating content through speeches, artworks, and written submissions. These dynamic and diverse expressions illuminated the profound impact that informed and engaged youth can have in the collective effort to combat the challenges of counterfeiting and smuggling.

An illegal factory allegedly manufacturing counterfeit pesticides was busted in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district and the owner of the unit was arrested, police said.

Police seized fake pesticides worth around Rs 1 crore from a house in the Bhadaninagar police outpost area, about 60 km from state capital Ranchi.

“The man who was allegedly running the illegal factory has been arrested,” Patratu Sub-Divisional Police Officer Birendra Kumar Chaudhary said.

A Mumbai-based company had lodged a complaint that counterfeit pesticides are being packed in Ramgarh district and sold in the name of its brand in markets, which is causing a huge loss to the entity as well as farmers.

“Police raided the house of the accused in Lapanga village on Saturday and seized fake pesticides worth around Rs 1 crore.

“A total of 6,475 packets of counterfeit pesticides, 4,800 empty packets with wrappers, sealing machine and 18 kg duplicate powder used in making chemicals were seized from the factory,” he added.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/fake-pesticides-worth-rs-1-crore-seized-one-arrested-in-jkhand/articleshow/101446805.cms

Gossaigaon, June 29: The Simultapu police, led by in-charge Sanjay Kumar Rai, conducted a routine check at the Assam-Bengal interstate border in Srirampur and seized a large quantity of Korean-made cigarettes hidden inside a secret chamber of a truck.

The truck, with registration number RJ27-GB-9984, was en route from Changsari in Guwahati to Muzaffarpur for the delivery of the consignment when it was intercepted during the early hours of the morning.

The police have arrested the driver, Satyabir, and the co-pilot, Rakesh Kumar, both from Uttar Pradesh.

According to police sources, the seized Korean-made cigarettes have an estimated value of around

Rs 25 lakh in the open market.

https://thehillstimes.in/assam/police-seize-korean-made-cigarettes-worth-rs-20-lakh-in-srirampur?amp=1

The Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered 70 cases of cigarettes of foreign origin worth Rs 91 lakh.

MIZORAM: The Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered 70 cases of cigarettes of foreign origin worth Rs 91 lakh in the general area of Ruantlang, Champhai, on Wednesday. The operation was carried out by a team of COB Champhai, Assam Rifles, based on specific information. The recovered consignment has been handed over to Custom Preventive Force Champhai for further legal proceedings, stated a press release.

https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/mizoram-news/assam-rifles-seized-foreign-origin-cigarettes-worth-rs-91-lakh-in-champhai-655950

The operation was carried out based on specific information received by the authorities.
A joint team of the Assam Rifles and Custom Department on June 26 successfully recovered a substantial quantity of illegal foreign origin liquor and cigarettes in the general area of Zokhawthar, Champhai District. The operation was carried out based on specific information received by the authorities.

The seized contraband, comprising foreign origin liquor and cigarettes, is estimated to be worth a staggering Rs 88.988 lakh. The joint team’s swift and coordinated action led to the confiscation of the illegal items, preventing their distribution in the market.

Earlier on June 25, In a major crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, Assam Rifles and Excise and Narcotics department during a joint operation recovered 3 hongs and 2 small plastic vials containing drugs worth Rs 35.77 lakh in Mizoram’s Champhai district.

https://www.indiatodayne.in/amp/mizoram/story/mizoram-assam-rifles-seize-illegal-foreign-origin-liquor-and-cigarettes-worth-rs-88-lakh-604752-2023-06-26