P93-M smuggled cigarettes seized at Port of Subic.
MANILA, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes worth an estimated P93 million were seized at the Port of Subic, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Friday.
BOC said that on Wednesday, July 1, it seized, through the District Collection Port of Subic, three 40-foot containers containing the smuggled cigarettes, which were declared as LED lights.
The smuggled cigarettes were discovered after the containers went through X-ray and physical examination. Some 3,100 master cases of cigarettes were seized, BOC said.
District Collector Maritess T. Martin issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) against the shipment while the consignee is now subject to further investigation for the possible violation of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution No. 079-2005, NTA Memorandum Circular No. 03, Series of 2004, in relation to sec. 1113 (f) of RA 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1301175/p93-m-smuggled-cigarettes-seized-at-port-of-subic
Lear MoreGold smuggling racket busted in Kochi: Role of film stars suspected
An incident that came to light as a one-off crime report last week in Kochi has snowballed into a major criminal case with international ramifications. Some of the prominent Malayalam film stars are being used as couriers to smuggle in gold from West Asian countries to various groups including terrorist gangs, if the reports coming out of Ernakulam Police Station are any indication.
It all started with Shamna Kasim, an upcoming film artist complaining to the Police that a group of people who had approached her parents with marriage proposal were hatching a plan to kidnap her with the intention to ask for ransom money.
Shamna’s mother filed a police case against five persons who had approached the family with a marriage proposal. The group had furnished fake identities about the youth and his family. This was followed by the group calling on Shamna’s parents at her Kochi home. Their dubious behaviour aroused suspicion in the minds of her parents who filed a complaint.
The police arrested all the five youth mentioned in the complaint and took into custody five more persons who are said to be their associates. It turned out that they were members of a major racket specialising in gold smuggling, blackmailing and flesh trade. On interrogation, the youth disclosed that they were in contact with many more film personalities.
Lear MoreR4 million cigarette smuggling racket busted.
Smuggling of cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River, always a problem because of the tax differences, increased dramatically from the beginning of April when South African lockdown regulations banned cigarette sales.
Authorities estimate that around 30 percent of cigarettes sold in South Africa are smuggled from Zimbabwe including Pacific, Remington gold, Mega, Dullahs, Branson and Servilles brands.
This has been a problem for some time because the South African Customs Union taxes tobacco at much higher rates than Zimbabwe, opening arbitrage possibilities for smugglers.
The ban on tobacco sales under the South African lockdown just made supplying the black market even more profitable, so more people became involved. But a crackdown on both sides of the border has seen more than 30 people arrested in the last fortnight, and the seizure of cigarettes worth an estimated R4 million.
https://www.herald.co.zw/r4-million-cigarette-smuggling-racket-busted/
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Huge consignment of liquor seized; one arrested
Mahasamund Police on Tuesday caught a man with 100 boxes of liquor worth Rs 5 lakh smuggled from Madhya Pradesh. Police also seized a Fortuner SUV and one SX4 car. Superintendent of Police Prafulla Kumar Thakur had directed the subordinate officials to keep an eye out for the liquor smuggled from other states. On his direction, ASP Megha Temburkar Sahu heightened up the vigil.
In the meantime, SP Mahasamund received an intelligence report about a large consignment of liquor from other State to Mahasamund. On the direction of ASP and SDO Police Mahasamund Narad Kumar Suryawanshi, City Kotwali Sher Singh Bande formed a team and on the night of June 29 Kotwali team set up picket points at every entry point to Mahasamund. At around 10 pm, a team at Ghodari Bridge learned about two suspected vehicles heading Mahasamund. A barricade were set-up at Belsonda Railway cross to stop these vehicles from safety point of view as seen in past that the smugglers don’t shy away from running over the police personnel.
Since the railway cross has a sharp turn, vehicles have to slow down at this barricading, and as the Fortuner car CG-04-HE-0003 was stopped, police surrounded it. Second vehicle, a SX4 attempted to escape by taking U-turn, but police grabbed them too. However, driver managed to flee from the spot taking advantage of the darkness.
https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2020/7/1/Huge-consignment-of-liquor-seized-one-arrested.html
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CBP San Juan seizes 560 sets of counterfeit Apple AirPods.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Juan Field Operations announced Thursday the seizure of 560 sets of fake Apple AirPods imported into Puerto Rico from Hong Kong via air courier. Had these goods been genuine, the estimated manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of the seized goods would have been an approximately $111,440.
“This product is sought by consumers because of its convenience to operate a phone or computer,” indicated Leida Colon, Assistant Director of Field Operations for Trade. “Unfortunately, counterfeits like this do not withstand the use that consumers expect.”
Most of the seizures of counterfeit products in the San Juan Field Office are jewelry, footwear, clothing, and prescription drugs. The main source countries for most of these items are Hong Kong and China.
Recently, the San Juan Field Office also seized jewelry and watches, and 844 counterfeit alloy wheels.
The sale of counterfeit goods robs legitimate businesses of revenue, takes jobs from American workers, and poses health and safety threats to U.S. consumers. The proceeds from counterfeit merchandise sales often supports other nefarious and illicit businesses.
https://ajot.com/news/cbp-san-juan-seizes-560-sets-of-counterfeit-apple-airpods
Lear MorePolice seize North Korean-made clothing in Liaoning Province
Chinese police recently seized a large amount of clothing produced in a North Korean textile factory and smuggled into China’s Liaoning Province, Daily NK has learned.
“Early last month, clothing produced in the Unha Textile Factory was delivered to a trader in China’s Liaoning Province,” a source based in China told Daily NK on June 18. “The trader who received the clothing was arrested by the police and all of the clothing was confiscated.”
sNorth Korea is prohibited from exporting textile products (any fabric or clothing, including partial or finished goods) under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2375. The seizure of the clothing may be part of China’s attempts to adhere to the UN resolution.
According to the source, the total value of the seized clothing was approximately RMB 20 million (around USD 2,816,749).
The Unha Textile Factory was likely desperate to sell off its stock and recklessly attempted to smuggle the clothes into China, the source speculated.
https://www.dailynk.com/english/police-seize-north-korean-made-clothing-liaoning-province/
Lear MoreP1-billion fake cigarettes, machines seize in Zamboanga raids
ZAMBOANGA CITY (June 22, 2020) – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in this city confiscated over P1-billion worth of smuggled cigarettes and cigarette-making machines in raids conducted in several warehouses in the Zamboanga peninsula, or Region 9.
Zamboanga City Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Collector Segundo Barte said, among those seized by the agency were over 1,200 master cases of fake cigarettes, fake Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) documentary stamps for excise tax, and cigarette-making machines worth over P1.138 billion.
According to Barte, the composite team seized the master cases of smuggled cigarettes, worth about P34 million, in Dipolog City: the six cigarette-replicating machines, worth P600 million, in Dinas and Labangan towns both in Zamboanga del Sur; and raw imported tobacco, worth P130,000, the fake BIR stamps valued at P500 million, and other imported goods worth P4 million in Pagadian City.
Barte said the composite team raided the warehouses in Dipolog City, Dinas and Labangan town both located in Zamboanga del Sur in compliance with the 10 Letters of Authority (LOA) issued by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to the local BOC here.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/22/p1-billion-fake-cigarettes-machines-seize-in-zamboanga-raids/
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CBP Officers Seize Counterfeit Touchscreen Tablets
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations officers working at the International Falls Port of Entry intercepted an international shipment containing over $460,000 in counterfeit tablets.
The shipment originated in China and was destined for Ohio.
CBP Officers targeted a rail container and after reviewing the information in the shipping documents, selected it for examination. During an examination of the goods, the officers discovered 1,152 counterfeit touchscreen tablets.
“CBP is focused on identifying and intercepting counterfeit merchandise and products. The enforcement of trade laws at U.S. ports of entry remains a high priority for us,” said Anthony Jackson, International Falls Port Director. “Counterfeiting adversely affects the ability of lawful copyright holders to profit from their original ideas. Counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.”
CBP officers contacted CBP’s Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise’s Import Specialists to determine their authenticity. After careful examination and coordination with the trademark owners, Import Specialists determined on June 12, 2020 that the product were in fact counterfeit.
https://lakesuperiornews.com/Public-Safety/cbp-officers-seize-counterfeit-touchscreen-tablets
Lear More5 liquor smugglers arrested in Ballia
Varanasi: The police nabbed five members of two gangs of liquor smugglers and recovered illicit liquor worth of Rs 52 lakh at two different places in Ballia district on Monday. The liquor consignments were being transported to Bihar.
According to reports, during a checking drive the police stopped a truck near Sadauli culvert in Rasara police station area in Ballia on Monday evening. On checking 49,000 bottles of illicit liquor of two brands packed in 980 cartons were recovered from the truck bearing registration number of Haryana.
The police arrested three persons identified as Manish Yadav, resident of Ballia, Rohtas and Sanjay, both natives of Haryana. During interrogation, they confessed that the liquor consignment was being smuggled to Bihar from Haryana.
Lear MoreUS seizes $4,000 worth of counterfeit Apple AirPods
US Customs and Border Protection says it seized almost $4,000 worth counterfeit Apple AirPods. The fake ear pods were discovered in a Chinese shipment at a DHL facility on June 1, CBP said Thursday. While checking the package for its lithium-ion batteries, CBP officers said the “quality of the packaging” wasn’t consistent with usual Apple packaging.
The counterfeit Apple AirPods were turned over for destruction.
“Counterfeit goods, like these, damage our economy,” said Shane Campbell, Chicago Area Port director. “When criminals sell these items, it deprives legitimate businesses from thriving.”
US companies lose billions of dollars every year due to fake products, Campbell said. CBP says it seizes more than $4 million worth of products that violate intellectual property rights every single day.
https://www.cnet.com/news/us-seizes-4000-worth-of-counterfeit-apple-airpods/
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