Security forces foil attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth RM1.04mil
TAWAU: The Armed Forces Joint Task Force 2 (ATB 2) foiled an attempt to smuggle 8,650 cartons of contraband cigarettes from a neighbouring country worth RM1.038mil under the integrated Ops Benteng patrol at Batu 3 here early Monday (May 30) morning.
ATB2 Commander Brigadier General Abdul Karim Ahmad said the Radar Coastal Surveillance Station (CSS) detected four suspicious speedboats moving from PulauSebatik towards Batu 3 at about 3.05am.
He said the Quick Reaction Force that was ordered to check the area came across a suspicious one-tonne lorry at 4am.
“The initial checks on the lorry found 8,560 illicit cigarettes, and the lorry which was used to bring the items from the neighbouring country to Tawau, Sabah, was abandoned after the smugglers realised the presence of security forces,” he said in a statement here today.
Abdul Karim said they believed that the syndicate involved locals and foreigners for the purpose of smuggling cigarettes to be sold in the black market around Tawau.
Lear MoreGold worth Rs 2.07 crore seized at Chandigarh airport
LUDHIANA: In another success for Customs Commissionerate Ludhiana in its anti-smuggling campaign, the officials of the department have seized gold worth Rs 2.07 crore which was being smuggled from Dubai to India via a flight that arrived at Chandigarh airport on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by commissioner of customs Ludhiana, Vrindaba Gohil, “On May 25, 2022, the Indigo Flight No. 6E -56 from Dubai to Chandigarh, arrived at Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali at 4.30pm. The Customs airport officers intercepted a passenger based on profiling/intelligence done on APIS and detected 4 gold bricks of 1kg each kept by the passenger in his hand baggage (concealed inside white coloured towel) market value Rs 2,07,56,000. They said 4 gold bricks were seized by the Customs officers and the passengers were arrested. On the same flight, the Customs officers intercepted one more passenger based on profiling/intelligence done on APIS and detected 5 cut pieces of gold chain weighing 142 grams, market value of Rs 7,36,838, concealed in used clothes which were kept in red colored back pack carried by the passenger.”
Statement also said, “They said 5 cut pieces of gold chain were seized by the Customs officer. Further investigations are under process as per Customs Act 1962.”
“Since the start of International Flights from Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali, many cases of smuggling of Gold in the form of Biscuits/ Bricks have been detected by the alert Customs staff. Currently, Chandigarh airport caters to nine weekly flights to and fro Dubai and Sharjah, and the Customs officers have vide their alertness and agility thwarted several such attempts of smuggling of gold and other contrabands.
Lear MoreRs 15 crore foreign currency seized, 4 held at Mumbai airport
MUMBAI: In a major breakthrough, the customs department’s Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) has busted a foreign currency smuggling racket and seized currency valued around Rs 15 crore. Officials said this is one of the biggest seizures of foreign currency in the city in recent years and suspect the money could be meant to finance drugs, gold smuggling or be part of a hawala racket abroad.
This could be just a tip of the iceberg, said officials, while pointing to the lack of a screening machine at the customs counter in the departure area of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Customs sources said the AIU team had been receiving intelligence that a big syndicate is actively involved in smuggling foreign currency on a regular basis. Based on specific intelligence and profiling of passengers, the AIU on Tuesday morning intercepted four passengers who were about to board an international flight. Officials detained the four, including a Sudanese woman, from whom they recovered US dollars valued around Rs 9 crore. “They failed to explain the source of so much foreign currency and were detained under provisions of the Customs Act. They will be produced before the concerned court on Wednesday,” said an officer.
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BSF arrests two Indian smugglers with Rs 6.15 crore gold
North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], May 24 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended two Indian smugglers with 74 gold biscuits and three gold bars worth over Rs 6.15 crore in two separate incidents from their border area.
The total weight of the seized gold is 11.620 kg and its value is approximately Rs 6,15,18,152. The smugglers were trying to take these gold biscuits from Bangladesh to India by dodging the security forces, stated the BSF.
In the first incident, on Monday, based on a specific input, troops of 179 Battalion BSF were checking vehicles at ICP Petrapole.
“At 11.15 am, troops stopped a truck which after unloading export goods, was returning to India from Bangladesh (Benapol) near the passenger gate at ICP Petrapole. During the search, a large packet wrapped in black cloth was found from behind the driver’s seat. On opening the packet, 70 gold biscuits and three gold bars were recovered. The total value of the seized Gold biscuits, bars and trucks was estimated to be Rs 5,98,54,165. Border Security Force troops soon seized all the gold biscuits, bars and the truck and also took the truck driver into custody for questioning”, said the official release.
Lear MoreAhmedabad: Student held with Rs 1.98 lakh in fake notes
AHMEDABAD: The city crime branch on Monday busted a fake currency notes racket with the seizure of 98 counterfeit notes of Rs 2,000 denomination with a face value of Rs 1.96 lakh, and arrested one person.
The accused, identified as Dilip Keshwala, 20, a computer engineering student, received the fake notes through courier and used them to buy mobile phones, gold and other items, according to a crime branch officer.
The sleuths seized 56 fake notes from Keshwala and 42 from a bank where these were deposited by a shopkeeper assuming the notes to be genuine, an official said.
The money collected after selling the mobile phones and gold etc., was then routed to the network through a courier service. The original currency notes received were to be sent to the accused in the form of bitcoins, the crime branch official said.
Keshwala got in touch with the network of people involved in the racket through an online portal while looking for a part-time job, he said.
“He was appointed as a service boy to whom the fake Indian currency notes would be dispatched through courier via an online portal,” the official said.
Lear MoreChennai Customs seize gold and foreign currency worth over Rs 1.3 crore
In three separate incidents, the Chennai Air Customs seized 2.9 kg gold worth over Rs 1.3 crore and assorted foreign currency valued at Rs 10.70 lakh from the passengers.
In the first instance, a passenger, identified as Nisar Mandala, a resident of Kannur, arrived from Dubai and was intercepted by the officials at the exit gate. Upon search, two plastic pouches containing gold in the form of paste, which was concealed inside his shoes, weighing 1.635 kgs were recovered.
The gold was valued at Rs 64.98 lakh and was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. The passenger was arrested.
In another instance, two passengers, KalandarThamimulAnsari and Mohammed NagoorMohideen, travelling to Dubai were intercepted by the airport authorities. On investigation, assorted foreign currency of various denominations valued at Rs 10.70 lakh was found concealed inside their rectums. The currency was seized under the Customs Act, 1962.
Lear More2 held in raids against liquor smugglers, manufacturers
Ludhiana: In its ongoing drive against illicit liquor smuggling, the Ludhiana excise department arrested two persons during the raids. The actions came a day after the department had conducted several raids on illicit liquor manufacturing hubs located near the banks of Satluj river.
Dr Shivani Gupta, assistant commissioner, excise, Ludhiana range, said, “Our teams are working round the clock to identify and act against gangs and persons involved in illicit liquor manufacturing and liquor smuggling. In a raid conducted on Wednesday at the house of bootlegger Nirmal Singh, resident of Galib Kalan village in Jagraon, our team recovered 24 bottles whiskey of a leading brand for sale in Haryana. We arrested the accused on the spot.”
She said following the information, another raid was conducted at the house of bootlegger Ram Singh, a resident of Kot Umra village near Sidhwan Bet and 20 bottles of illicit liquor (home made) were seized. On Thursday, a joint naka was held near Ittan Wala chowk. During checking, one Sukhdev Singh of Dhandra village was arrested with 36 bottles of Sounfia (for sale in Punjab) from his scooter number PB10HE5348. Further investigation in all three cases is under progress.”
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Assam : Fake Currency Ring Busted In Mangaldoi; 5 Held
A five-member gang suspected to be involved in an interstate ring of counterfeit currency has been apprehended from Assam’s Mangaldoi.
According to the police, the offenders were apprehended due to prompt action by four unarmed Home Guard Jawans.
Following their arrest, a large amount of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) with a face value of Rs 15 lakhs in the denomination of Rs 500 were confiscated.
According to police, these two Home Guard Jawans, identified as – Alkibar Rahman and Hitesh Medhi noticed the Maruti Swift car bearing registration number ASO1AF9389 moving suspiciously near Chapai Chowk at midnight.
They attempted to stop the truck, but the driver refused and raced away towards Mangaldai town.
Following receipt of the information, these two Home Guard jawans intercepted the automobile at Karimchowk in Mangaldai town and transported the vehicle and four passengers to the police station. Police seized thirty packets of FICN totaling 15 lakh after conducting a thorough check of the vehicle.
https://www.northeasttoday.in/2022/05/21/assam-fake-currency-ring-busted-in-mangaldoi-5-held/
Lear MoreCapacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling
Focus State: Gujarat
Medium: VIRTUAL
With the objective to sensitize the police officers of Gujarat to combat the socio-economic evils of illicit trade from the society, which are risky parasites to the economy and cause danger to the lives of individuals, FICCI CASCADE organized a “Capacity Building Programme for Gujarat Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling” on 20th May 2022.
Addressing the programme Mr. Saurabh Tolumbia, Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID (Crime and Railways), Gujarat said that the recent biggest seizure in Gujarat included duplicate versions of sunglasses of a high-end brand, worth ₹6 Crores. He stated that there have been 46 copyright cases over the last 2 years and Gujarat Police have managed to seize counterfeit goods worth Rs 12.5 Crore. He further mentioned that the police have seized duplicate watches amounting to more than Rs 3 Crore 31 Lakhs, and duplicate mobile accessories worth Rs 83 Lakhs.
Mr. P C Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs in his welcome address said, “The illegal activities of counterfeiting and smuggling are flooding the market with substandard fake goods which are produced without following quality norms at unhygienic places, and are sold without issuing bills, thus contributing towards increase in unaccounted money.” Trade in counterfeit and smuggled goods has developed a substantial threat to the economy of our country and pose serious safety and security hazards to the society at large, he added. He also stated that the valiant police officers of Gujarat Police, have over the last couple of months taken several actions against criminals dealing with fake currency, illicit alcohol, smuggled cigarettes, fake injections and drugs.
While giving an overview on Socio-Economic Impact of Counterfeiting and Smuggling, Mr Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi highlighted the global estimates of illicit trade. He said that the wider social, investment and criminal enforcement costs due to smuggling and counterfeiting could touch $4.2 trillion by 2022, putting at risk 5.4 million legitimate jobs. As per the recent FICCI CASCADE study, in the FY 2018-19 Indian economy loses Rs 1,17,253 crore due to smuggling in the five key sectors and total livelihood opportunities lost is 16.36 lacs, he added.
He apprised on the innovative ways of counterfeiting and smuggling adopted by the illicit traders to run their illegal market network. He highlighted that India is an emerging economy and is on the right track to become the 3rd largest economy in the world by 2025. To achieve the same, industrial growth need to be increased; more investment needed for growth and development; increase in expenditure on R & D is required and police being the primary enforcement body has to play an important role in enforcing laws.
Mr Pradeep Dixit, Vice President, Industry Affairs, ITC Ltd said, “Smuggling and Counterfeiting expands black markets and encourages a convergence between organized crime, terrorist groups and other threat networks.” Generating mass awareness amongst the consumers is an important mean to curtail the hazards of growing illicit trade, Mr Dixit added.
Mr Nitin Saluja, Senior Policy Manager, Customer Trust, Amazon India discussed about Amazon’s efforts in mitigating fraud and abuse on marketplaces that hamper customer trust and how Amazon via its various initiatives puts in enormous resources to deliver on its established tenets and to make its marketplace a reliable and safe platform for customers, brands, and sellers to conduct transactions. He stated that Amazon is committed to promoting and participating in the efforts for ensuring that the consumers are empowered to enjoy the benefits of online shopping while being protected from the risks the digital era may present.
Over the years, FICCI CASCADE has been regularly engaging with law enforcement agencies including police, customs and paramilitary organizations engaged in border protection in sensitizing them on the gravity of the problem of counterfeiting and smuggling.
Ship captain fined €600 over discovery of three million ‘contraband cigarettes’ onboard
A court has fined the captain of a merchant ship €600 for submitting a false declaration in administrative paperwork after customs officials discovered mastercases containing over three million contraband cigarettes. However, the court cleared him of more serious charges after ruling that it hadn’t been shown that the items seized were in fact, cigarettes.
Magistrate Ian Farrugia presided over the case in which prosecuting police inspector Daryl Borg charged Mario Cardona, captain of the MV Alice with attempting to evade duty and tax and knowingly receiving or transporting the contraband cigarettes, as well as .knowingly omitting a substantial detail in his declarations to the Maltese authorities.
The MV Alice had docked in Malta on June 29, 2014, with its captain, Mario Cardona and four other crew members on board.
As per normal procedure, the ship’s local Agent had gone aboard the ship to inspect its IMO declaration, which stated that there was nothing to be declared except gas, oil and fuel. But not long after Caruana had disembarked the ship and gone home, Customs officials boarded the ship and discovered a large stockpile of cigarettes in the ship’s stores, close to the crew’s living quarters.
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