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PUDUCHERRY: Forest Department officials from Salem seized six tonnes of sandalwood and sawdust from an essential oil factory in Puducherry. The factory operates on land allegedly owned by the daughter of Puducherry Agriculture Minister Theni C Djeacoumar.

According to sources, during a vehicle check in Salem, forest officials seized 1.5 tonnes of sandalwood transported from Kerala in a container lorry without proper permission. A total of Six persons were arrested in the case. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that the sandalwood was destined for Indore Afro Essential Oil Private Limited in Ulavaikal near Villianur, Puducherry.

A team led by Assistant Conservator of Forests R Selvakumar conducted an inspection at the factory on Thursday, following which they found a total of six tonnes of sandalwood, sawdust, and 24 kilograms of oil in search. The inspection and inquiry continued until Friday evening and the officials seized the items and informed the Puducherry district administration, but no arrests were made. The factory is allegedly owned by a man from Kerala and the land in which it is located allegedly belongs to a Puducherry minister’s daughter, sources added.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Jun/16/six-tonnes-of-sandalwood-seized-in-puducherry#:~:text=PUDUCHERRY%3A%20Forest%20Department%20officials%20from,Agriculture%20Minister%20Theni%20C%20Djeacoumar.

Border Security Force (BSF) in Meghalaya, in a major crackdown on cross-border smuggling activities, thwarted two separate smuggling attempts on June 14.

The operations resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of medicines, mobile phone displays, and sugar, collectively valued at over Rs 77 lakh.

The seized goods were intended to be smuggled into Bangladesh through the international border. The BSF personnel, deployed along the border, demonstrated their vigilance and swift action to disrupt the illegal activities.

https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-bsf-seizes-goods-worth-rs-77-lakh-along-bangladesh-border-1029094-2024-06-15

Officers of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 2.57 kg of gold being smuggled in the form of plates by a passenger at the Tiruchi International Airport on Thursday.

Acting on specific intelligence, the AIU officers checked the food processor / juicer mixer in the luggage being taken by a passenger who arrived from Dubai by an Air India Express flight. The officers found gold in the form of plates concealed inside the food processor. The value of the gold was estimated at ₹1.83 crore.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/25-kg-gold-seized-at-tiruchi-airport/article68289073.ece

Under the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a campaign against illegal and toxic liquor is on in the state. Within a week following end of the EC’s model code of conduct, thousands of litres of illegal and toxic liquor were seized and destroyed by excise and police departments.

Swift action resulted in the operation in Amroha, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Sitapur, Sultanpur, Lalitpur, Hapur, Moradabad, Lakhimpur, Gonda, Etah, Ambedkar Nagar, Basti, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Jhansi, Unnao, Banda, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Farrukhabad, Badaun, Amethi, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur and Basti districts of the state.

Factories producing counterfeit domestic and foreign made liquor, bottles, fake wrappers and fake QR codes were found. A gang selling contracted liquor from other states at various dhabas in the state was busted too.

Until Thursday morning, 60 litres of illicit liquor and 200 kg raw material were seized and destroyed in Sitapur. In Jhansi, police seized 610 litres of illicit liquor and 3,800 kgs of raw material and destroyed them on the spot. Four women were arrested. In Unnao, excise team seized 225 litres illicit liquor.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/thousands-of-litres-of-illicit-liquor-seized-and-destroyed-in-statewide-drive-within-a-week/articleshow/110981517.cms

The annual fair took place between 6 June and 12 June. Trading Standards officers have seized counterfeit goods worth more than £500,000 from the market fields at this year’s Appleby Horse Fair.

The items include 2,500 pairs of sunglasses and nearly 200 bottles of perfume with counterfeit Cartier, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior trademarks.

Supt Dan St Quintin said this year’s fair had seen “a new standard set for proactive enforcement”. Trading Standards manager Catherine Hornby urged people to avoid buying counterfeit items.

“Consumers are often not aware of the health risks involved in using counterfeit items,” she said. “At best you will waste your money on a sub-standard product, at worst you may purchase something that is harmful. Counterfeit items are unregulated, and the counterfeiters have no regard for your health and safety.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c511749yp43o

A joint team from various UT administration departments conducted raids at several cigarette-selling shops on Wednesday and issued fines worth ₹12,200 for various violations.

Authorities also seized 53 packets of imported cigarettes, valued at ₹21,200 in the wholesale market, with a significantly higher retail value. The seized cigarettes did not have the required 85% pictorial warnings and had bypassed customs, excise and GST regulations.

The joint team, led by officers of the department of health and family welfare, and comprising officials of the police, health, excise and taxation, legal metrology departments, and food safety and drug control wing, carried out a targeted raid for the enforcement of tobacco control regulations in Chandigarh.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/illegal-cigarettes-worth-21-200-seized-in-chandigarh-two-shops-fined-101718223126776.html

In a significant crackdown on illegal smuggling, the Assam Excise Department seized Arunachali liquor worth approximately Rs 6 lakh during an intensified excise drive at the Assam-Arunachal border in Sonitpur district. The raid took place at the 12-mile mark of the border and led to the arrest of one trafficker.

Acting on a tip-off, the excise team intercepted a vehicle, bearing the registration number AS-32-A-4373, which was transporting the illicit liquor from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam. The department successfully chased down the vehicle and seized the contraband.

Further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the smuggling network.

https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/smuggled-liquor-worth-rs-6-lakh-seized-at-assam-arunachal-border-1027458-2024-06-13

Illegal vapes and tobacco products worth thousands of pounds were seized in a raid in Derbyshire.Derbyshire Police and county council Trading Standards teams carried out a joint operation at a store in Long Eaton – which the authorities have not named – on Thursday.

Reports had been made that products which did not meet legal requirements were being sold.Inside, 1,060 illegal packs of cigarettes, illegal tobacco weighing 1.25kg, and 287 illegal vapes were seized.Long Eaton Safer Neighbourhood Team officers say the haul had a value of £5,800.

‘Very serious offence’

A Derbyshire County Council spokesperson said: “Illegal tobacco products pose health risks due to contaminants and failing to meet manufacturing standards including issues related to ongoing burning and a higher fire risk. “The true content of illegal vapes is unknown, posing possible health risks.“Many of the illegal vapes found on the market are packaged to be particularly appealing to children and are available at ‘pocket money’ prices, as well as often far exceeding the legal nicotine content.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c977qq0v015o

On Saturday, June 8, a combined team of Assam Rifles, Mizoram Police, and the Customs Department in Champhai executed an operation in the Zote and Ruantlang areas. The operation led to the recovery of 26 grams of Heroin No.4 worth ₹18.2 lakh and 151 cases of foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹1.96 crores.The estimated market value of the seized items is approximately ₹2.14 crores. The authorities also apprehended an individual involved in the smuggling activities.

https://guwahatiplus.com/northeast/heroin-foreign-cigarettes-worth-rs552-crores-seized-in-mizoram