22 October 2021 | Medium: VIRTUAL
Customs seizes P120-M worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Tawi-Tawi
More than P120 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were recently intercepted in Tawi-Tawi, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said.
The bureau said a vessel, which was carrying the shipment from Indonesia, was seized on Nov. 6 by its operatives from the Port of Zamboanga.
The operation stemmed from an information it received about a vessel, M/L Nur 1 departing from Indonesia en route to Indanan, Sulu.
“Guided by the Intelligence Group, the information was then relayed to the Customs personnel in Taganak Island, Tawi Tawi for validation and coordination,” the BOC said in a statement.
An operation was then launched against the vessel by the bureau’s anti-smuggling team, in cooperation with the Naval Intelligence and Security Unit – Zamboanga, Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Marines, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other intelligence operatives.
https://www.untvweb.com/news/customs-seizes-p120-m-worth-of-smuggled-cigarettes-seized-in-tawi-tawi/
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Revenue seize almost 3.5 million cigarettes at Dublin Port.
As a result of an intelligence led operation and with the assistance of Revenue’s X-Ray Scanner, Revenue officers seized 3.45 million cigarettes at Dublin Port yesterday.
The smuggled cigarettes were discovered in 10 large metal boxes, concealed within timber frames, on a trailer that had arrived on a vessel from Rotterdam.
The smuggled cigarettes branded ‘Winston’ have an estimated retail value of €2,415,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1,890,600.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products.
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‘Smuggled’ cigarettes seized in Bulacan
CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan––Police seized at least 358 reams of cigarettes allegedly smuggled from Thailand during an entrapment operation Saturday, Oct. 30, in the City of Malolos.
Col. Manuel Lukban Jr., Bulacan police director, said police arrested Manny De Jesus, 37, owner of James Store in Barangay Mambog, after selling imported and untaxed cigarettes to undercover agents.
Seized from him were various brands of imported cigarettes and the buy-bust money worth P1,050.
The police said a salesman from Nueva Ecija supplied the cigarettes to De Jesus.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1509085/smuggled-cigarettes-seized-in-bulacan
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2 nabbed, P750-K smuggled cigarettes seized in Pagadian City
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police authorities are preparing charges against two individuals caught transporting about PHP750,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga del Sur.
According to a report released by Col. Roel Lami-ing, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police director, on Saturday, suspects Samuel Abrenica, 51, delivery truck driver, and his 18-year-old aide, Bienvenido Ancheta Jr., were arrested at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday by joint police and military personnel in Barangay Baloyboan at the provincial capital, Pagadian City
Lami-ing said the troops were manning the Community Police Assistance Center checkpoint when they intercepted the truck loaded with 50 master cases and bound for Zamboanga Sibugay.
He said the duo failed to present documents to show the legality of their shipment of 27 cigarette master cases of green Commando, 22 master cases of red Commando, and one master case of Premier.
On October 17, the police also seized an illegal cigarette shipment in Barangay Upper Bag-ong Tudela, Josefina — 874 reams of Indonesian-made Gudang Baru cigarettes worth PHP786,600.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1158301
Lear MoreHong Kong seizes record $154 mn in luxury goods headed to China
Hong Kong customs announced a record seizure on Friday of luxury goods that were headed to mainland China on a river barge in the latest operation to target an explosion of cross-border smuggling.
The haul included an array of highly sought-after items such as luxury watches, handbags, cosmetics and fins from endangered marine species.
Officials said the goods were worth about HK$1.2 billion ($154 million), by far the largest seizure made by the city’s customs agents.
The operation took place on October 14 when customs discovered what they said was a suspicious vessel that claimed to be transporting plastic pellets.
Instead officers discovered a veritable department store of luxury items.
“The Chinese New Year is only around three months from now… so the mainland has a larger demand for these expensive foods like fish maw and sea cucumber than in normal days,” customs investigator Cheng Tai-hei told reporters.
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19,800 packets of foreign cigarette and 413 kg of ganja seized along Assam-Tripura border
Guwahati/IBNS: Police have seized 19,800 packets of foreign cigarettes and 413 kg of ganja worth more than Rs 6 lakh from two vehicles in Assam’s Karimganj district along Assam-Tripura border.
During checking, police have seized 19800 packets of foreign cigarettes from a mini truck bearing registration number TR-05D-1904 at Churaibari area along Assam-Tripura border.
A police official said that the market value of the seized cigarette is estimated at Rs 2 lakh.
“We have also seized the vehicle and detained two persons. On the other hand during checking we have recovered 32 packets of ganja weighing around 413 kg from a truck at Churaibari area. The market value of the seized ganja is estimated at Rs 4 lakh,” the police official said.
Lear MoreBanned Tobacco Worth Rs 8.5 Lakh Seized from Milk Crate in Nagpur
Nagpur Police seized banned tobacco products, worth around Rs 8.85 lakh on Sunday. Jaripatka police intercepted a milk container on CMPDI Road, Nagpur and arrested the vehicle’s driver, Kishan. According to the police, the consignment was bought from a businessman who has been identified as Farook by Vijay Jethani of Vijay Traders. The supplier, who is allegedly from Chhindwara, has been made an accused in the case. Senior inspector Vaibhav Jadhav informed the Times of India that Jethani has been absconding ever since the action. The action was led by zonal deputy police commissioner (DCP) Manish Kalwaniya and ACP Roshan Pandit, supervised by CP Amitesh Kumar. The food and drugs administration (FDA) will test the seized consignment at a government laboratory. Flavoured tobacco is a banned commodity in the state of Maharashtra.
Jadhav, in his statement, revealed how his team located the consignment. “The sacks of scented and flavoured tobacco were being ferried behind the milk crates. We intercepted the vehicle after specific information,” he said. He also mentioned that after Jethani’s consignment was caught by a crime branch recently, previous records against him have also been found.
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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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