Webinar on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
Be Vocal for Local and Prevent Illicit Trade
22 December 2021 | Focus State – Odisha
The problem of illicit trade has only compounded in the current situation of COVID 19, where criminals have used the pandemic as an opportunity to cause significant damage on the economy of the nation, health and safety of the consumers. FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) in its series of state specific webinars on “Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond’, organized the next edition in the series for the state of Odisha on December 22, 2020. The webinar discussed and underscored the efforts that the industry & government have taken and could further take in tackling the flow of illicit products during the current crisis.
Capt. Dibya Shankar Mishra, Minister for Industries, MSME, Energy and Home, Govt of Odisha was the chief guest at the programme. While addressing the audience he said, “The menace of counterfeit and smuggled goods have penetrated deep into our society and is impacting the socio-economic prosperity of the country, which needs to be addressed immediately.” “Strict enforcement plays a very important role in curbing the menace of illicit trade. I am proud to share that Odisha’s enforcement agencies have been vigilant in fighting these illegal activities”, Capt. Mishra added.
Mr D P Dash, Former Pr. Director-General, DRI, Former Chairman, Enforcement Committee, World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Think Tank Member, FICCI CASCADE said, “inculcating moral values amongst children to buy genuine goods with bills on payment of taxes is an intergenerational investment in the fight against illicit trade.” He further said that penal provisions under central and state laws should be invoked to make a real impact in the fight against illicit trade.
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE in his welcome address said, “illicit products have infiltrated everyday avenues of commerce, making their way into supply chains and consumers’ homes, thereby threatening manufacturers’ competitiveness, undermining consumer confidence and posing a threat to individuals health and safety”. “I must also compliment the Odisha government and the enforcement agencies for relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of illicit trade. Despite the mammoth challenge posed by COVID 19 pandemic, their hands-on approach and alertness have been highlighted by seizures of large number of fake and smuggled medicines, currency, consumer goods, food products, cigarettes and much more”, Mr. Rajput added.
“Counterfeiting and smuggling causes an economic loss to the nation which can be addressed at the grassroot level by educating the school children and MSMEs on the impact of illicit trade,” said Ms Monica Nayyar Patnaik, Chairperson, FICCI Odisha State Council & MD, Sambad Group.
Mr. Sanjeev Mahapatra, Member, FICCI Odisha State Council and Director, Terrablock Machinery in his concluding remarks said that it is time we hone India’s inherent strength and capabilities to be resilient, competitive and attractive, so that our economy can adapt to the challenges in the post COVID era.
The speakers reiterated that consumer safety and safeguarding legitimate businesses while promoting indigenous production will also play a significant role in the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
IGI airport sees rise in gold seizures from foreign countries
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) witnessed a significant surge in gold seizures this year as security personnel confiscated gold worth Rs 1.82 crore as compared to last year when only Rs 5 lakh worth of gold was seized.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said gold smuggling cases went up from one last year to 11 cases this year. The officials claimed they busted several international and interstate gangs this year who tried to smuggle gold, drugs and sandalwood.
According to official data, illegal substances and drugs worth Rs 10.13 lakh were seized this year. The seizure rate saw a decline as drugs worth Rs 23.2 crore were seized last year.
Cases of fake e-tickets/passport/fake ID cases have also declined, from 27 cases last year to 12 cases at present. Arms smuggling cases also reduced from 29 to 25, the data showed.
Senior CISF officials said officers at the airport have been briefed to look for suspicious luggage, activities or persons as passengers use creative ways to conceal items and smuggle them.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-igi-airport-gold-seizures-7684850/
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Foreign cigarettes: A challenge for Assam Police
GUWAHATI: Guwahati has turned into a hub of foreign cigarettes in India. Foreign cigarettes go to the other states of the country from Guwahati. It is another challenge for the state police force that has waged war against drugs. According to police sources, foreign cigarettes come to Guwahati by vehicles or trains via Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
The margin of profit is very high. A packet of foreign cigarettes costs Rs Rs 20 in Myanmar. The smugglers sell such a packet Rs 80 in Guwahati, the police said.
Foreign cigarettes come to Guwahati mainly from Myanmar and Korea, the police added. Smokers do not know the nicotine content of foreign cigarettes as all information on packets are in foreign languages. The GRP (Government Railway Police) seized 3,000 packets of foreign cigarettes from January to the first week of November in 2021 against 390 packets in the Corona-marred 2020. In 2019, the GRP seized 4,410 packets of foreign cigarettes.
https://www.sentinelassam.com/topheadlines/foreign-cigarettes-a-challenge-for-assam-police-568674
Lear MoreMAD 2.5 Million of Phone Accessories Seized in Nador
Rabat – Morocco’s Customs and Excise Administration seized more than MAD 2.5 million ($268,000) worth of mobile phone accessories at the port of Nador.
A press release from the port’s administration said that the seizure included 132,176 mobile phone chargers, 101 thousand car charging adapters, 10 thousand batteries, and close to 5,000 pieces of miscellaneous phone accessories.
The goods were imported with fraudulent processes and with no declaration, in an apparent effort to avoid paying customs duties and evade the control standards imposed on this type of product.
Poor quality electric accessories and chargers can pose a danger in the form of fire hazards and electric accidents, hence the strict standards enforced by authorities, said the release.
This operation comes in addition to similar operations conducted by Moroccan authorities earlier this year.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/12/346093/mad-2-5-million-of-phone-accessories-seized-in-nador
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Mastermind of counterfeit liquor racket detained under PASA
Vadodara: An expert in making counterfeit liquor, Nitin Kotvani was detained under the Prevention of Anti-Social Act (PASA) by the prevention of crime branch (PCB) on Wednesday. Kotvani is one of the key accused in the recent racket busted by cops where liquor was being manufactured at a unit meant for making ayurvedic syrup on the outskirts of the city.
“He was booked under PASA for being a ‘dangerous person’. Kotvani has committed similar crimes in the past and he is a habitual offender whose activities can endanger lives,” said Jatin Patel, police inspector. The police said that Kotvani can make formulations for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).
“He has done Bachelors in Science (BSc) and hence he has a thorough knowledge of chemicals. Many years ago, he was booked for making non-alcoholic beer that had more liquor content,” Patel told TOI. Thirty-six-year-old Kotvani was also arrested earlier this year for making duplicate sanitiser during the second wave of Covid.
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Assam: 8 Cartons Of Illegal Burmese Cigarettes Seized, 1 Held
One person was arrested along with a large quantity of illegal foreign cigarettes in Lailapur in Assam’s Cachar district on Thursday.
Foreign cigarettes believed to be of Burmese origin were recovered by the police from one Noor Ahmed in Lailapur in Cachar.
The accused was reportedly trying to smuggle them from Aizawl to Silchar when he was caught.
Meanwhile, police have recovered 8 cartons of Burmese cigarettes from his possession. The culprit has been taken in for further questioning.
https://www.pratidintime.com/assam-8-cartons-of-illegal-burmese-cigarettes-seized-1-held/
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BOC-Zambo destroys P300-M smuggled cigarettes
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) here, together with partner agencies, on Wednesday destroyed more than 8,000 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP300 million.
The cigarettes were stacked, drenched by firetrucks, and crushed with the use of heavy equipment in front of the BOC-rented warehouse in Barangay Baliwasan.
After crushing, the cigarettes were disposed at the sanitary landfill.
“These cigarettes were seized in separate anti-smuggling operations in Zamboanga Peninsula and BaSulTa (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) from May to November this year,” BOC-Zamboanga District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. said in an interview.
Barte said the destruction of the contraband serves as a warning that they are serious in the campaign against smuggling.
“The smugglers often declare their cargoes during anti-smuggling operations or Customs checkpoint as sacks of dried fish or fishes with other prime commodities or junk foods inside iceboxes,” he added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1162810
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CBP seizes $30 million shipment of fake handbags and clothing ahead of holidays
US customs officers have seized a container filled with more than $30 million worth of fake designer bags and clothing at a Los Angeles port ahead of the holiday season, US Customs and Border Protection officials said.
CBP officers found bags, shirts and pants bearing counterfeit logos including Gucci and Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles Seaport on November 9, the CPB said in a statement released December 2.
The container of 13,586 items had been shipped from China and would have had a combined estimated recommended retail price of $30,437,775, it said.
The CBP said that counterfeit goods had historically been sold in underground outlets and on illegitimate websites.
“The rise of e-commerce offers a haven for criminals who are now able to hide behind seemingly legitimate listings on well-known websites. The sale of counterfeit commodities multiplies the illegal profits of smugglers and traffickers who reinvest the proceeds from such sales into further criminal enterprises,” it said in its statement.
The agency’s Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, Carlos C. Martel, said that “substantial law enforcement resources” were deployed to keep fake goods out of US supply chains.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/05/us/cbp-counterfeit-handbag-seizure/index.html
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Delhi: Customs seizes 2,800 kg Pak-origin cosmetics sent via UAE to evade Rs 1.2 cr duty
The Delhi Customs has seized around 2,800 kg of Pakistani-origin cosmetic products which were routed through Abu Dhabi and shown as household items to evade customs duty to the tune of around Rs 1.2 crore.
“Acting on specific intelligence, officers of Air Cargo Export Commissionerate intercepted an import consignment at New Courier Terminal on November 29. For smuggling the goods and to evade detection, 87 unique names and addresses of consignees across the country were used. However, the goods in all the bags were found to be similar. The matter is under investigation to find out the real evader who is suspected to have used different names and addresses of the ghost recipients,” a senior official said.
An officer said a lot of 87 consignments had arrived by flight from Abu Dhabi. “After examination, 84 consignments were found to contain cosmetics of Pakistani origin, while three consignments were of perfume concentrate from Bahrain. As per rules, any imported goods originating from Pakistan attract basic customs duty at the rate of 200% of the value of the goods. The goods were attempted to be cleared through courier mode by mis-declaring the origin and description of goods, and its value to evade the applicable customs duty and IGST,” the officer said.
Lear MoreAssam Rifles seizes foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 70 lakh in Mizoram
The Serchhip Battalion of Assam Rifles in a joint operation seized 53 cases and 47 loose packets of V- Valiant Mild cigarettes (foreign origin cigarettes) worth Rs 70, 12,200 at Tlangsam Mizoram’s Champhai district on Wednesday.
Acting on specific information, troops of Assam Rifles along with Customs Dept officials carried out a joint operation, AR said in a statement.
The approximate cost of the recovered foreign-origin cigarettes is Rs 70, 12,200.
The recovered items have been handed over to the Customs Preventive Force in Champhai district for further legal proceedings.
Ongoing smuggling of foreign-origin cigarettes is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram, especially along the India-Myanmar border, said an Assam Rifles official.
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