22 October 2021 | Medium: VIRTUAL
Rajasthan Bypolls: Illicit Liquor, Cash Worth Over Rs 79 Lakh Seized in Vallabhnagar, Dhariawa
Illicit liquor, cash, narcotics substances and other material worth over Rs 79 lakh was seized in Rajasthan’s Vallabhnagar and Dhariawa assembly constituencies where bypolls are scheduled on October 30, officials said.
Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said from the day the by-elections were announced for Vallabhnagar and Dhariawad till October 21, various items worth Rs 79.29 lakh have been confiscated.
He said strict vigil is being maintained by the departments concerned in the constituencies and immediate action is being taken on any suspicious activity. Voting in both the assembly constituencies will be held on October 30 and the counting will take place on November 2.
Lear MoreCapacity Building Programme for Police Officers On Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling
FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) organized Capacity Building Programmes for Police Officers of Maharashtra on Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling. The programmes were conducted in two parts, one for the officers to the level of PSIs on 20th October 2021 and the other for DySPs and ACPs on 22nd October 2021. The workshops saw participation of several officers of Maharashtra Police across various districts. The capacity building programmes were organized with an aim to sensitize the police officers on the importance of continued awareness and seriousness of the impact of counterfeit and smuggled goods.
Mr. Ravindra Sengaonkar, Inspector General of Police, Training and Special Unit, Maharashtra, was the chief guest at the programmes. While addressing the gathering Mr. Sengaonkar said, “Funds raised by counterfeiting & smuggling activities are directly utilized for anti-social activities and are a threat to the nation. Hence, it is important that we assign adequate priority to such cases.” “Any offense related to counterfeiting or smuggling has to be investigated thoroughly, professionally and should have a logical conclusion”, he further added.
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE delivered the welcome address. “Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in our country and play a significant role in ensuring the protection of legitimate businesses from illicit players. Although there are adequate laws available, their enforcement makes the role of police officers even more important in the fight against counterfeiters and smugglers”, said Mr. Rajput. Complimenting the officers, he added that top class information, timely action and a proactive approach against the criminals who indulge in illicit activities, exhibited by the Maharashtra Police is indeed a great service to the nation.
Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi said, “Capacity building in terms of skill, infrastructure and technology is essential for the law enforcement agencies in improving the detection and investigation of crimes relating to counterfeiting and smuggling. Moreover, severe extant bail provisions, rigorous imprisonment and stringent monetary penalty are also imperative to create the desired deterrence.”
Speakers from ITC, Johnson and Johnson and Marico highlighted industry issues and spoke on the need for collaborative actions with Police to counter such offences. In pursuance of its mandate, FICCI-CASCADE has been organizing similar programs across the country in briefing enforcement agencies on procedural and enforcement issues while tackling illicit trading activities.
Over five million illegal cigarettes seized from retail outlets in the first six months of the year
Over five million illegal cigarettes have been seized from retail outlets in the first six months of the year as part of a joint initiative to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.
The haul of illicit products also includes more than 1,700kg of hand rolled tobacco and 66kg of shisha.
In total, more than £2.7 million pounds worth of illegal tobacco products have been taken off streets across England and Wales since the operation launched in January 2021.
The illegal cigarettes were seized as part of Operation CeCe, a joint initiative between the National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Operation CeCe is part of a wider government strategy to disrupt every aspect of the illegal tobacco market, from front-line retailers to global Organised Crime Groups who drive the illicit trade, smuggling tobacco internationally on a grand scale.
The strategy includes tackling supply lines at source by shutting down illegal factories, intercepting smuggled product and cash at the border and disrupting those individuals selling the product in shops and markets. All of which is achieved through close collaboration with law enforcement and other partners.
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Over 12,000 bottles of illicit liquor destroyed in Ahmedabad
A prohibition seizure destruction drive was organised in Gota area of Ahmedabad Wednesday afternoon, in which a total of 12,384 bottles of IMFL worth Rs 72.92 lakh were destroyed using bulldozer.
Over 12,000 bottles of illicit Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) seized by the city police were destroyed in a drive organised in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
According to the police, a prohibition seizure destruction drive was organised in Gota area of Ahmedabad Wednesday afternoon, in which a total of 12,384 bottles of IMFL worth Rs 72.92 lakh were destroyed using a bulldozer by the city police in the presence of Deputy Commissioner of police (Zone 1) Ravindra Patel.
“The seized illicit liquor from five police stations — Sola High Court police station, Naranpura police station, Vastrapur police station, Vadaj police station and Ghatlodia police station — was destroyed in the presence of senior police, administrative and prohibition department officials on Wednesday,” said a senior police official.
Lear More600 kgs of smuggled sea cucumber worth $4 million seized in India’s southern Tamil Nadu coast
An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team in southern Tamil Nadu state seized 600 kilograms of sea cucumber from a small boat that was involved in smuggling.
The market value of seized sea cucumbers is said to be around Rs 30 million ($400,000 approximately).
Based on a tip-off, the ICG team tracked the suspect vessel at Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district, and cordoned off the road to block their escape.
Subsequently, the boat was found to be anchored off Uchhipalli coast in Ramanathapuram on Tuesday afternoon.
The Coast Guard teams then rummaged the vessel and recovered 31 gunny bags of sea cucumber weighing 600 kgs. The boat, along with seized sea cucumbers, were then brought to Mandapam and handed over to the forest department officials.
Sea cucumbers are an important constituent of the marine ecosystem as they play a key role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
By excreting the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, sea cucumbers enhance the productivity of benthic animals —those living on the ocean floor.
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Zim loses US$30m to smuggled washing powder
Zimbabwe is losing approximately US$30 million a year through the smuggling of Maq washing powder, a report by the Detergents Manufacturers Association (DMA) claims.
About US$12 million is foregone annually through tax evasion while US$18 million is externalised to purchase the product before it is smuggled through Zimbabwe’s porous borders, the association said.
“It can be calculated that the government is losing approximately US$30 million a year just through the smuggling of a single product into Zimbabwe, Maq washing powder, as US$12 million is foregone annually through evaded taxes and US$18 million is externalised out of Zimbabwe to purchase the smuggled product from South Africa,” a recent DMA report read.
“Smuggling is, therefore, not only a significant problem for the industry and the workforce, but also for the government and the economy as a significant amount of revenue is lost due to the evasion of duties and taxes because of the smuggling.”
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/10/zim-loses-us30m-to-smuggled-washing-powder/
Lear MoreCapacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Prevention of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Piracy. Focus State: Maharashtra
20 October 2021 | Medium: VIRTUAL
FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) organized Capacity Building Programmes for Police Officers of Maharashtra on Prevention of Counterfeiting and Smuggling. The programmes were conducted in two parts, one for the officers to the level of PSIs on 20th October 2021 and the other for DySPs and ACPs on 22nd October 2021. The workshops saw participation of several officers of Maharashtra Police across various districts. The capacity building programmes were organized with an aim to sensitize the police officers on the importance of continued awareness and seriousness of the impact of counterfeit and smuggled goods.
Mr. Ravindra Sengaonkar, Inspector General of Police, Training and Special Unit, Maharashtra, was the chief guest at the programmes. While addressing the gathering Mr. Sengaonkar said, “Funds raised by counterfeiting & smuggling activities are directly utilized for anti-social activities and are a threat to the nation. Hence, it is important that we assign adequate priority to such cases.” “Any offense related to counterfeiting or smuggling has to be investigated thoroughly, professionally and should have a logical conclusion”, he further added.
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE delivered the welcome address. “Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in our country and play a significant role in ensuring the protection of legitimate businesses from illicit players. Although there are adequate laws available, their enforcement makes the role of police officers even more important in the fight against counterfeiters and smugglers”, said Mr. Rajput. Complimenting the officers, he added that top class information, timely action and a proactive approach against the criminals who indulge in illicit activities, exhibited by the Maharashtra Police is indeed a great service to the nation.
Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi said, “Capacity building in terms of skill, infrastructure and technology is essential for the law enforcement agencies in improving the detection and investigation of crimes relating to counterfeiting and smuggling. Moreover, severe extant bail provisions, rigorous imprisonment and stringent monetary penalty are also imperative to create the desired deterrence.”
Speakers from ITC, Johnson and Johnson and Marico highlighted industry issues and spoke on the need for collaborative actions with Police to counter such offences. In pursuance of its mandate, FICCI-CASCADE has been organizing similar programs across the country in briefing enforcement agencies on procedural and enforcement issues while tackling illicit trading activities.
‘Money, liquor flowingfreely in Huzurabad’
Hyderabad: Seizure of Rs 1.57 crore during the Huzurabad bypoll campaign was only the tip of the iceberg compared to the actual amount being spent by parties, according to independent observers.
Police and excise officials have also seized liquor worth Rs 53 lakh, about 3.5 kg of ganja, 30 gm gold and 14 kg silver so far. Observers said with the campaign temperature rising, both the ruling party as well as the opposition were going all out to woo the voters by pumping in huge amount of money and liquor.
Telangana chief electoral officer Shashank Goel said, “I have held a review meeting with all departments, including income tax, excise and police at Karimnagar. They were asked not to allow any money or liquor or any other means of luring voters. They are conducting checks frequently. There are three observers posted. Inter-disciplinary teams are also in action. We have been booking Model Code of Conduct violations.”
Goel further said, “Political parties are filing complaints against each other. We are forwarding the same to district authorities and returning officers to check the veracity. Reports are sent to ECI. We had a meeting with representatives of the political parties where several issues were discussed.”
Lear MoreGujarat: Liquor seized from milk truck, one held
According to the police, a team of Local Crime Branch (LCB) Gandhinagar intercepted an Amul milk truck and a pilot four-wheeler vehicle on the Sonipur Kolvada road in Gandhinagar Saturday.
Police in Gandhinagar seized over 7,000 bottles of illicit Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) being smuggled in an “Amul” milk truck Saturday and arrested one accused.
According to the police, a team of Local Crime Branch (LCB) Gandhinagar intercepted an Amul milk truck and a pilot four-wheeler vehicle on the Sonipur Kolvada road in Gandhinagar Saturday.
Police said a total of 7,668 IMFL bottles worth Rs 9 lakh was allegedly found from the Amul truck. “Based on specific input, a team of LCB, headed by police inspector JH Sindhav, intercepted an Amul truck and a four-wheeler piloting it on the Sonipur Kovada road. We have managed to apprehend one accused–Kalpesh Vaghela, an Ahmedabad resident –from the truck. Vaghela told us that an accused named Sonu Sindhi from Shahibaug had smuggled the IMFL from Rajasthan and the accused were bringing it to Ahmedabad in the Amul truck. Sindhi is wanted in the prohibition case now. A total of 7,668 bottles, consisting of whiskey and beer, have been seized from the truck. Further investigation is on in the case,” said a senior police official.
Lear MoreCustoms seizes P545 million smuggled goods in Q3
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs confiscated more than P545 million worth of smuggled crops as of end-September, as well as filed cases against dozens of importers and brokers as part of efforts to improve border security.
The BOC seized a total of P545.06 million in agricultural products, mostly rice, onion and garlic, from operations it conducted from January to September.
Only three commodities accounted for nearly 83 percent of the value at P452.28 million, namely, rice (P206.8 million), onion (P190.48 million) and garlic (P55 million).
The BOC filed 14 lawsuits before the Department of Justice in a bid to punish 41 individuals involved in the smuggling of farm goods. The agency said these importers and brokers tried to smuggled P85.2 million worth of agricultural products into the domestic market.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/10/16/2134589/customs-seizes-p545-million-smuggled-goods-q3
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