Chennai: Gold worth Rs 33 lakhs seized from Vaseline, hair gel tubes
Customs officials in Chennai have busted a unique modus operandi of gold smuggling, by seizing gold hidden in vaseline containers and hair gel tubes. In two cases, a total of 635 grams of gold valued at Rs. 33.3 lakhs or USD 45,429 was recovered and seized under the Customs Act.
In the first case, based on intelligence, Jinka Sudhakara, who had arrived from Kuwait via flight KU 1343 was intercepted on suspicion of carrying gold. Examination of his checked-in baggage revealed two small plastic containers of Vaseline(petroleum jelly). On further inspection, 16 gold cut bits were recovered from the jelly. 365 grams of gold valued at Rs. 19.14 lakhs was recovered and seized.
Later, Thamimun Ansari, who arrived from Dubai by Air India Express Flight IX 1644 was intercepted at the exit and his baggage was checked. Among his personal belongings, nine hair gel tubes with the branding ‘Well New Wave’ were found to be unusually heavy. On being cut open, the tubes were found to contain a golden brown, thick paste, suspected to be gold in paste form. On extraction, 270 grams of gold valued at Rs.14.16 lakhs was recovered.
Lear MoreCustoms seizes P11-million smuggled cigarettes in Pagadian City
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized about 360 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P11 million off the coast of Tabina town in Zamboanga del Sur and reportedly bound for delivery and distribution in Pagadian City.
BOC- Zamboanga City District Collector Segundo Z. Barte Jr. said the Zamboanga Peninsula Inter-Agency on Anti-Smuggling (ZPIAonAS) team led by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) intercepted the delivery of the P10.8 million contraband on Friday, Oct. 9.
Barte said the smuggled and imported cigarettes came from Sulu province on board F/B Normay and were scheduled for delivery to a certain Asul in Pagadian City when authorities were able to intercept the shipment off the coast of Tabina town.
Representatives from Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Inc. also witnessed the seizure of the contraband that included the fake brands of “Fort,” “New Far,” “San Marino,” “Royal,” and “Astro.”
https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/14/customs-seizes-p11-million-smuggled-cigarettes-in-pagadian-city/
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€15,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes seized at Cork airport
Revenue officers seized an estimated €15,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes at Cork airport yesterday after routine profiling.
21,900 cigarettes were discovered in the carry on luggage of two people arriving on a flight from Gdansk in Poland.
Branded L&M and Marlboro Gold, the smuggled cigarettes represent a potential loss of €11,650 to the Exchequer.
In a statement this morning, Revenue said the seizure is part of ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products.
They are encouraging members of the public or businesses with information about smuggling or the sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco to contact them in confidence on Freephone 1800 295 295.
Investigations into yesterday’s seizure are ongoing.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-40063238.html
Lear More10.8M smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga del Sur
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur –– A team from the Philippine Navy here seized more than 300 master cases of smuggled cigarettes estimated to be worth P10.8 million aboard a fishing boat that sailed here from Sulu, a navy officer said.
Commander Jowel de Vera, chief of the BRP Jose Loor of the Philippine Navy, said the fishing boat “Normay” loaded with 308 master cases of smuggled cigarettes had been intercepted on the seas off the coastline of Tabina town in this province on Thursday evening.
He said the fishing boat that came from Sulu was apprehended while in transit to this city to deliver the items.
Michael Lanza, operations officer of the Bureau of Customs in Region 9, said the seized items had been so far the largest to be confiscated in the region’s intensified campaign against smuggled cigarettes.
He said the National Bureau of Investigation also apprehended on May 28 an earlier batch of 15 master cases of smuggled cigarettes in Pitogo town of Zamboanga del Sur.
“They [smugglers] have become so daring on (their attempts to smuggle the items through the) seas despite the knowledge that authorities are on an intensified campaign along the borders,” he said.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1346765/p10-8m-smuggled-cigarettes-seized-in-zamboanga-del-sur
Lear MoreSmuggled Gold Worth ₹ 1.64 Crore Seized At Chennai Airport
Chennai:More than three kg of smuggled gold worth ₹ 1.64 crore have been seized including from some air passengers who arrived at Dubai at the airport by the customs department personnel in the last two days.
The seizure also included ”unclaimed” gold bars concealed and abandoned under the seat of an aircraft which arrived from Dubai, a Customs press release said.
The department officials, on suspicion, intercepted some passengers who arrived separately on Wednesday and Tuesday and recovered the precious metal in paste form concealed in rectum and the inner wear.
In total, 3.15 kg of gold worth ₹ 1.64 crore had been seized and two passengers arrested in this connection, the release said.
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Smuggled Cigarette Packets Worth Rs 67 Lakh Seized In Assam, One Held
The Customs department on Thursday seized 27,920 packets of foreign origin cigarettes worth Rs 67 lakh from here and arrested a person in this connection, an official said.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of customs officials seized the cigarette packets from Kerakuchi in Hatigaon area.
The recovered goods are believed to be smuggled from Myanmar through the international border in Mizoram, Customs (Prevention) Division’s Deputy Commissioner Om Prakash Tiwary said.
The department had seized 68 tonne of areca nut, commonly known as betel nut, worth Rs 2.55 crore on Tuesday.
The contraband was suspected to be smuggled from Myanmar, the official added.
Lear MoreGold worth ₹25.45 lakhs seized at Mangalore Airport, one arrested
MANGALURU : Mangalore International Airport officials on Friday seized nearly 500 grams of gold valued at ₹25.45 lakhs from a passenger who arrived from Dubai.
The passenger was arrested in connection with the seizure and was later produced before court.
Officials informed that the gold was concealed inside the heating element of an electric rice cooker.
In a similar incident yesterday, the Air Intelligence Unit (AUI) at Kannur Airport in Kerala seized gold worth ₹31.21 lakhs from a passenger from Dubai.
Chennai Air Customs on Saturday seized 133 grams of gold paste worth ₹6.93 lakh at the Chennai International Airport from a passenger who arrived from Dubai.
According to Chennai Air Customs, two bundles of gold paste were recovered from his rectum during the search. 133 grams of gold worth at ₹6.93 lakhs was seized under Customs Act, 1962.
Earlier in the month of August, Hyderabad customs had also seized 3.11 kg gold from passengers who arrived from Dammam in Air India flight under Vande Bharat mission.
Lear MoreBOC destroys P50M in smuggled cigarettes, strips consignees of import licenses
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Northern Mindanao destroyed at least P50 million in smuggled cigarettes.
John Simon, BOC district collector in the region, said 78,000 reams of cigarettes entered the Philippines in two separate shipments at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental province.
The first cigarette shipment arrived last May 14 and was declared as office furniture, consigned to Fernfreight Enterprises. The second shipment arrived on June 9 and was declared as disposable cups, consigned to Dong Yin Industrial Suppliers.
Simon said the Northern Mindanao BOC office issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipments, followed by a forfeiture order.
Simon vowed to continue to go after consignees who smuggle cigarettes and other items to evade Customs duties. He added that both consignees have already been stripped of their accreditation as importers.
The seized contraband haul was brought to a warehouse in Opol town where these were destroyed starting last Saturday (Oct. 3).
Lear MoreForeign cigarettes worth Rs 7 lakh seized in Secunderabad.
Hyderabad: Customs officials on Monday seized foreign cigarettes that were being smuggled from New Delhi to Secunderabad by train. Based on intelligence that foreign cigarettes were being smuggled from New Delhi to Secunderabad through parcels, Customs and Railways conducted a joint search of parcels at Secunderabad Railway Station.
The four polythene packs comprised 4,000 cigarettes, each packet containing 20 cigarettes, all of foreign origin. The parcel was booked from New Delhi to Secunderabad. The details of the consignee and consignor for the parcel was being ascertained and added that the market value of seized material was Rs 7 lakh approximately. Further investigation is on.
https://telanganatoday.com/foreign-cigarettes-worth-rs-7-lakh-seized-in-secunderabad
Lear MoreArrested At Delhi Airport For Smuggling Gold Worth 52 Lakh By Hiding It In Rectum: Customs
New Delhi: Two people have been arrested by the customs officials for smuggling gold, worth nearly ₹ 52 lakh, by concealing it in their rectum. The arrest was made at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to an official statement issued on Friday.
The accused, a man and a woman, were caught in Delhi after their arrival from Dubai on Wednesday.
The officials seized gold weighing 1.14 kg, amounting to ₹ 51.8 lakh, from the two passengers concealed in rectum in paste form,” the statement issued by the customs department said.
The passengers, both natives of Madurai, admitted to previous smuggling of gold and goods amounting ₹ 1.03 crore during their past visits, it said, adding that the two were arrested.
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