Police from the Consumer Protection Police Division and officials from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) seized fake food supplements, cosmetics and medicines worth more than 10-million baht in a raid on a warehouse in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district today (Friday).
The over 6,000 fake items had been smuggled into Thailand from China and the warehouse, located in the Bantadthong area, is owned by a Chinese national, according to the police.
The fake products were being offered for sale online and many consumers had already bought them, believing them to be authentic.
TFDA Deputy Secretary-General Weerachai Nolwachai said that some of the fake medicine and food supplements contain ingredients which may be harmful, especially to pregnant women.
The warehouse owner has been charged with selling fake products, but he has denied the charges.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fake-products-worth-%E0%B8%BF10m-seized-from-bangkok-warehouse/
Fake products worth ฿10m seized from Bangkok warehouse
Assam: Fake gold items weighing over 5 kg seized in Morigaon, two held
Assam Police on March 22, seized fake gold items weighing over five kilograms and detained two in Morigaon district on charges of smuggling.
An operation was carried out at Nellie in Jagiroad in the Morigaon district of Assam based on specific inputs of a possible smuggling attempt, according to preliminary reports. Officials were able to recover three boat-shaped pieces of gold from the two men’s possession during the operation.
After careful examination, it became clear that the seized items were fakes and not genuine gold. The entire seizure, according to officials, weighed approximately 5.4 kilograms.
During the operation, the police detained two individuals for attempting to smuggle the fake gold items. The two were identified by the police as Mohammad Alaluddin and Mohammad Abu Kalam.
The two were also in possession of three mobile phones and a motorcycle, in addition to the phony gold items.
In the mean time, Nellie Police have brought the two in to be interrogated regarding the matter. According to reports, the recent increase in the number of fake gold items seized across the state suggests that a larger connection is at work.
Officials informed that on March 21, at least four individuals and fake gold items were seized by Jagiroad Police in the Morigaon district of Assam.
https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-fake-gold-items-weighing-over-5-kg-seized-in-morigaon-two-held-531031-2023-03-23
BSF Jawans Nab Two Smugglers Smuggling Phensedyl On Indo-Bangladesh Border
Thwarting the plans of smugglers, BSF troops under South Bengal Frontier seized 373 bottles of Phensedyl and 02 smugglers from their area of responsibility in Indo-Bangladesh International Border area. The estimated value of the seized Phensedyl bottles is Rs.75,182/-. Smugglers were trying to take these contraband items from India to Bangladesh.
The first incident took place on 22 March 2023 at 2315 hrs, in the area of BSF’s Border Out Post Sabdalpur, 70 Battalion. Acting on intelligence, jawans performing CCTV camera duty, observed 02 smugglers moving towards the international border with gunny bags. The jawans immediately laid an ambush in their area of responsibility. The troops challenged them, as soon as jawans got the opportunity and nabbed 02 smugglers on the spot. 298 bottles of Phensedyl were seized from the possession of the smugglers. The apprehended smugglers were identified as Mahibur Sheikh and Faizul Shaikh, District Malda.
The apprehended smugglers revealed that they had received Phensedyl from Ishab Sheikh and Irshad Sheikh, District Malda and were to further cross the BSF duty line and hand it over to Sohail Sheikh, District Chapinavganj, Bangladesh. But BSF jawans caught them on the way.
In another incident, jawans of Border Out Post Amudia, 112 Battalion seized 75 bottles of Phensedyl from their area of responsibility.
The apprehended smugglers and the seized goods were handed over to the concerned agencies for further legal action.
https://neindiabroadcast.com/2023/03/23/bsf-jawans-nab-two-smugglers-smuggling-phensedyl-on-indo-bangladesh-border/
Bangkok Police seize over 5 million baht of fake brand products from Indian mafia store
Bangkok Police conducted a raid on counterfeit band name products at a store on the third floor of MBK shopping mall in Bangkok today and seized goods worth over 5 million baht. The store was reported to be operated by an Indian mafia gang called Babu.
The Department of Intellectual Property Protection was alerted to the activities of the Babu gang, who were reportedly smuggling and selling counterfeit brand name products, including trainers, bags, clothes, and watches, at the MBK Shopping Mall near the National Stadium BTS Station in Bangkok.
According to Thai media reports, the Babu gang rented a unit on the third floor of the mall to store and distribute their products. They operated both retail and wholesale, with more than 30 shops in the mall and nearby areas buying counterfeit products from the gang for resale.
The gang reportedly deceived their customers by claiming that the products were imported directly from an outlet abroad, resulting in lower prices compared to official stores.
https://thethaiger.com/news/national/bangkok-police-seize-over-5-million-baht-of-fake-brand-products-from-indian-mafia-store
BSF Seizes Cosmetics, Medicines, Household Articles, And Clothes Worth More Than Rupees 51.50 Lakhs From The Bandhan Express Train During A Search Operation
On March 19, 2023, at 0930 hours, troops of ICP Petrapole, 145 Battalion under South Bengal Frontier seized cosmetics, medicines, household items, and clothes worth more than Rs. 51.50 lakhs. The goods were being transported from India to Bangladesh via the Bandhan Express train.
The jawans on duty received information that a large quantity of cosmetics, medicines, household items, and clothes were going to be illegally transported on the Bandhan Express train from India to Bangladesh. Acting on this information, the company commander formed a search team. This train travels from Chitpur, Kolkata to Khulna, Bangladesh via Petrapole. The search team stopped the train at ICP Petrapole and conducted a thorough search of the train with the help of dogs and handlers. During the search, the team discovered 25 bundles containing the aforementioned goods.
The seized goods were handed over to the Customs Office at Petrapole for further legal action.
The spokesperson of the South Bengal Frontier expressed satisfaction with the jawans’ success and stated that it was a reflection of their vigilance. He added that BSF jawans will not allow smuggling or any other form of crime to take place on the border under any circumstances. He also stated that their intelligence department is investigating the people involved in this smuggling.
https://neindiabroadcast.com/2023/03/20/bsf-seizes-cosmetics-medicines-household-articles-and-clothes-worth-more-than-rupees-51-50-lakhs-from-the-bandhan-express-train-during-a-search-operation/
Two nabbed with 6.5 kg contraband items in Manipur: Police
Chandel (Manipur) [India], March 18 (ANI): Two alleged smugglers were arrested and 6.5 kg contraband items, valued at over Rs 5 crore in the international market, were seized from them from TuinganDung Nala in Chandel district here, police said on Saturday.
According to a police statement, based on specific input, Sajik Tampak Batallion of Assam Rifles launched a search operation in the General area TuinganDung Nala, near Lebonan Village in Chandel district on March 15.
During the search and frisking operation, two individuals were found in possession of 2.5 kg of heroin and 4 kg of opium, the statement added.
The seized contraband items are assessed to be valued at Rs 5,02,80,000 in the international market, police said. The recovered items along with the smugglers were handed over to Chakpikarong Police Station for further investigation.
Last month, in a similar incident, the Assam Rifles foiled a smuggling bid and recovered contraband drugs valued at Rs 6 crore during a checking operation along with the arrest of a drug smuggler in Manipur’s Chandel district, officials said.
The official said that a mobile vehicle check post was established in the general area of Aisi Village in Mizoram based on credible input.
https://theprint.in/india/two-nabbed-with-6-5-kg-contraband-items-in-manipur-police/1454791/
17.7 lakh cigarettes seized at Kolkata airport destroyed.
KOLKATA: A stock of 17.7 lakh sticks of smuggled cigarettes of various foreign brands — valued at over Rs 1 crore — that had been seized and was lying at Kolkata airport for several months was destroyed on Monday.
The cigarettes were destroyed at a facility of West Bengal Waste Management in Haldia under the supervision of Customs officials.
In recent years, the Indian government has made a concerted attempt to curb cigarette smuggling as the foreign cigarettes are on an average 50% cheaper in India and the market size is huge — almost one third of the total cigarettes market.
According to an annual DRI report, 11 crore cigarette sticks valued at Rs 93 crore were seized from various airports in India in 2021-22.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/17-7l-cigarettes-seized-at-airport-destroyed/articleshow/98645771.cms
1.5-kg gold seized at Amritsar airport
Customs department has arrested a passenger on his arrival from Sharjah, with the recovery of 1.5 kilograms of gold from his possession, at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar, officials said on Monday. The recovered gold’s price is pegged at ₹ 86,41,200, the officials added.
Customs department has arrested a passenger on his arrival from Sharjah, with the recovery of 1.5 kilograms of gold from his possession, at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar, officials said on Monday. The recovered gold’s price is pegged at ₹ 86,41,200, the officials added.
“On the basis of profiling and suspicious activity, one passenger coming from Sharjah via Indigo Flight number 6E48 on Sunday was intercepted by Customs officials. On searching his belongings, 13 gold biscuits weighing altogether 1516 grams having market value of ₹ 86,41,200 were found concealed in three liquor bottles,” said a spokesperson of Customs. He said the gold has been seized and the passenger has been arrested. Further investigations are in progress.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/15kg-gold-seized-at-amritsar-airport-101678713953997.html
Fake Puma clothes worth ₹5.8 lakh seized in Khar; 5 booked
Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch seized clothes worth ₹5.82 lakh, which were allegedly the ‘first copies’ of the international clothing brand – Puma. The cops booked the five owners of the shop in Khar, which had huge stocks of fake clothes.
A local representative of Gurgaon-based RNA IP Attorneys, who represent the Germany-headquartered brand in India, had filed a complaint about breaching copyright. Accordingly, he, along with cops from the property cell of the crime branch visited the five stores on Friday.
“We visited all the stores. All of them had a lot of clothes of our brand stocked. When the police asked them to present the documents that authorized them to sell out clothing, they couldn’t show them,” states the complaint.
Then, samples were collected for testing and other duplicate clothes like t-shirts, track pants, jackets, etc worth ₹5.8 lakh were seized.
As the attorneys of the company, its representatives work towards protecting its manufacturing copyrights in the country. As such they are always on the lookout for places that sell duplicate clothing of the brand by copying its logo through screen printing. The attorneys have their network of informants who let them know of places where such duplicate or fake branded clothes are sold.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/fake-puma-clothes-worth-5-8-lakh-seized-in-khar-5-booked-101678647924886.html
Mumbai: CISF official foils bid to smuggle out ₹1.55 cr in hand baggage at city airport
CISF staff at integrated security held three of a Mumbai family, a man, his wife and his sister-in-law, who were travelling to Bangkok on Saturday night with baggage that consisted of bulky wedding gifts.
An alert Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer at the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport foiled a bid to smuggle foreign currency by intercepting the suspect passengers, leading to the seizure of US$ 1.90 lakh (valued at Rs 1.55 crore) concealed in their hand baggage.
The repeated seizure of foreign currency by the CISF in the integrated security hold after immigration clearance at the CSIM highlights the failure of Airport Customs and the Air Intelligence Unit deployed to prevent smuggling, even as bona fide passengers are harassed with rampant extortion on the pretext of collecting customs duty.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-csif-official-foils-bid-to-smuggle-out-155-cr-in-hand-baggage-at-city-airport