Author: adminficci

The Border Security Force officials stopped a bus at a check post in Petrapole for a search after receiving a tip-off about the gold smuggling.

By Anupam Mishra: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday apprehended two people trying to smuggle 52 gold biscuits worth Rs 4.24 crore across the Indo-Bangla border. The smugglers were held at an Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Petrapole in North 24 Parganas district.

The jawans of ICP Petrapole received reliable information about gold smuggling from Bangladesh to India through the Royal Friendship International Passenger Bus. The bus was travelling from Agartala via Dhaka to Kolkata.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/border-security-forces-gold-smuggling-bangladesh-2376593-2023-05-09

The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and the Customs Department of Zokhawthar based on specific information on Thursday.

Deized consignment was handed over to the Land Customs Station of Zokhawthar (Representational)

In yet another success in its crusade against smuggling activities, the Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles recovered illegal Foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 1.53 Crore near Melbuk Xg at Zokhawthar, according to an official statement.

The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and the Customs Department of Zokhawthar based on specific information on Thursday.

“Approximate cost of the foreign origin cigarettes Rs 1,53,40,000 lakh (One Crore fifty-three lakh forty thousand only),” the statement said.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/foreign-cigarettes-worth-over-rs-1-core-recovered-from-mizoram-4009248

Kanpur: In a breakthrough, the police arrested two men for selling counterfeit leather products in the city late on Tuesday night.

During a raid, the Chamanganj police along with a surveillance team caught two youths from two different police station areas with fake leather goods.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/2-held-with-counterfeit-leather-goods/articleshow/99974411.cms?from=mdr

The Hawks have arrested a gas tanker driver in Potchefstroom in the North West for allegedly smuggling cigarettes worth more than R7.8 million inside the vehicle.

North West Hawks spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, said the 49-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after officers were told that a large consignment of illicit cigarettes was on its way from Buffelshoek in Mpumalanga to Potchefstroom in the gas tanker.
After stopping and searching the tanker, Rikhotso said, the team discovered 482 master cases containing 50 cartons of illicit Chelsea cigarettes.

“Additionally, in a separate compartment, 109 master cases containing 25 cartons were also found. All the cigarettes and the gas tanker truck were seized for further investigation,” Rikhotso added.

He said the man would appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Friday for possession of illicit cigarettes and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/driver-arrested-for-allegedly-smuggling-illicit-cigarettes-worth-r78m-in-a-gas-tanker-20230504

MIZORAM: The Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered illegal areca nuts, foreign-origin liquor, and cigarettes worth Rs. 11.81 lakh in general area Xg Pt. III Zokhawthar on Monday.

The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and the Customs Department, Zokhawthar, based on specific information. The seized consignment was handed over to the Customs Department in Zokhawthar on Monday for further legal proceedings, stated a press release.

https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/mizoram-news/assam-rifles-seized-illegal-areca-nuts-foreign-origin-liquor-and-cigarettes-647869

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized over 1000 counterfeit Apple Airpods and 50 fake Apple Watches worth $290,000. The culprits were apprehended at the Washington Dulles International Airport. The fake products were coming in from China as the report has said. Due to the 1 to 1 accuracy of the products, they intended to sell them at the same prices as the original products. The report also say the CBP made this announcement of the 25th of March 2023.

This seizure of fake goods is not really a new thing. In the fiscal year 2022, the CBP seized over 21,000 shipments of counterfeit goods. These counterfeit products undermine the national economy. It also poses a threat to the consumers who may unknowingly purchase these products.

Counterfeit goods are those products that are made to look like the original products but normally sell at lower prices. However, counterfeit products are often of inferior quality.

https://www.gizchina.com/2023/04/28/290000-worth-of-apple-airpods-found-to-be-fake/

April 27-28, 2023, North-Eastern Police Academy, Umiam, Meghalaya

It is a well-known fact that due to the ease of market entry and potential for infiltration, law enforcement agencies, such as the police, have a crucial responsibility in safeguarding and implementing measures to protect the rights of public. FICCI CASCADE has been actively involved in imparting training to equip law enforcement officials with the knowledge of relevant laws and empower them to take necessary actions against smugglers and counterfeiters. With this objective, FICCI CASCADE organized two-day program on April 27-28, 2023 at the North-Eastern Police Academy to raise awareness among Northeast police officers regarding the necessity of combating the socio-economic harms caused by illicit trade. Illicit trade is a perilous menace to the economy and poses a threat to people’s lives.

Mr. Pawan Kumar Sharma, Deputy Assistant Director, Police Science, NEPA mentioned that tackling the crimes of illicit trade has been a major concern for nations for decades. The north-eastern police forces have always been on their toes to capture the criminals who are operating the illegal market. The police department holds a crucial position in upholding law and order and safeguarding lawful businesses from illicit market operators as the primary law enforcement agency in our nation.

Mr. Sharma stated that at NEPA we are engaged in shaping police officers for equitable, effective and sensitive policing. It is dedicated to teaching the police personnel of Northeastern states and from across the country to safeguard the value of freedom from disorder, criminal acts and criminals.

Mr. P C Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in his address, accentuated that illicit trade has a significant adverse effect on security, environment, health, safety and economy. It is a criminal activity with high profits and low risks. Virtually every illicit product is available in the market without exception. Mr. Jha emphasized that the lack of sufficient penalties and prolonged legal processes for prosecution and adjudication fail to deter illicit market operators effectively.

Practical Aspects of Investigation of Counterfeiting and Smuggling were discussed by Mr. Deep Chand IPS, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi. He stated that the growing intensity of smuggling and counterfeiting is posing a significant risk for knowledge-based, open & globalized economies. NEPA is one of the best police training academies of India which has been imparting training to the police fraternity of north-east states. The police officers of NEPA are proactive in intercepting the movement of smuggled products and are taking a definitive step towards putting the fear in the hearts of smugglers who deal in illicit trade activities. He appreciated the untiring efforts of the officers for successful interception of products such as illicit cigarettes, liquor, currency, contrabands and many more in the recent past in the Northeastern states.

Industry issues and collaborative actions which are needed to counter such economic offences were discussed by Mr. Pradeep Dixit, Executive Vice President – Industry Affairs, ITC Ltd. and Mr. Milind Palany, Senior Manager, Global Brand Protection, Southern Asia and ANZ Cluster, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health.

“India’s illegal cigarette market is the world’s fourth largest and is expanding rapidly, making it imperative to increase awareness and sensitize individuals within society”, said Mr. Dixit. He also opined that raising widespread awareness among consumers is a crucial way to reduce the dangers associated with the increasing prevalence of illegal trade.

Mr. Palany also addressed illicit activities such as smuggling, counterfeiting and tax evasion as unlawful economic operations. He said that such practices result in reduced government revenues which could be used to fund crucial public services, while simultaneously uprooting millions of lawful jobs and causing harm to both public health and safety. In order to curb the menace of counterfeiting, illicit trade & illegal parallel import, it is important to strengthen enforcement and stop this menace at the border itself, he added.

Mr. Jitender Kumar Dwivedi, Deputy Director, North-Eastern Police Academy accentuated that India, as a rising economic superpower need to take offences related to counterfeiting and smuggling very seriously and police has a significant role in fighting this menace. For, a police officer investigating cases involving smuggling and counterfeiting, it is crucial to comprehend the potential outcomes of their actions on the ground. This understanding is necessary to make informed decisions and take appropriate measures, emphasized Mr. Dwivedi.

The programme witnessed an enthusiastic participation of over 400 officers including (DySPs, cadets and sub inspectors) from different states of Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.