India’s coastal security: An assessment
Coastal preparedness is better than earlier — but the overall picture remains less than satisfactory. While the state of inter-agency coordination has improved, state governments continue to be indifferent to needs of coastal security, and the state-police still reluctant to shoulder responsibility.
The tenth anniversary of 26/11 is an apt occasion to review the state of India’s coastal security preparedness. In the aftermath of the attacks on Mumbai, the government made concerted efforts to improve coastal security infrastructure and law enforcement. In a radical overhaul of the coastal defence apparatus, a three-tier security grid was installed with the Indian Navy, the coast guard, and the marine police jointly patrolling India’s near-seas. An existing Coastal Security Scheme (originally instituted in 2005) was accelerated, with greater fund allocations for coastal infrastructure, including police stations and radar stations along India’s coastline. The enterprise included measures to improve ‘surveillance and domain awareness,’ through the installation of radar stations and identification systems), and the enhancement of coordination through Joint Operation Centres (JOCs).
A decade later, coastal preparedness is better than earlier, but the overall picture remains less than satisfactory. While the state of inter-agency coordination has improved, state governments continue to be indifferent to needs of coastal security, and the state-police still reluctant to shoulder responsibility. The real problem, observers point out, are systemic flaws in the policing apparatus. From low numbers of marine police stations, to the underutilisation of patrol boats for coastal tasks, absence of shore-based infrastructure, through to manpower shortages and unspent funds, coastal managers are yet to resolve many structural issues plaguing the system.
Regrettably, the proposal to set up an apex coastal authority remains frozen. India’s policymakers recognise the need for a full-time manager to coordinate the large number of agencies (over 15) in the coastal security space. Officials say that the National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security, which presently coordinates joint activities, is at best an ad hoc arrangement. Yet, parliament has not been able to clear the coastal security bill that would establish a National Maritime Authority (NMA).
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indias-coastal-security-an-assessment-45692/
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1.8 million smuggled cigarettes seized by Customs.
28, November 2018 l Radionz
Customs has seized about 1.8 million cigarettes and more than $2 million cash in an investigation into an Auckland businessman.
New Zealand Police have also restrained multiple properties, luxury cars and bank accounts.
The businessman was arrested by Customs at Auckland Airport last Wednesday as he attempted to leave the country.
He has been charged with defrauding Customs revenue.
“The tax evaded by smuggling the 1.8 million cigarettes is almost $1.8m,” Customs said in a statement.
The investigation began after Customs identified a company suspected of smuggling cigarettes inside sea containers. Customs, during a recent container inspection, located 340,000 cigarettes hidden inside metal cabinets.
Lear MoreThree arrested on attempt to smuggle foreign cigarettes.
26, November 2018 l News First
Three individuals who had attempted to smuggle foreign cigarettes into the country have been arrested by the Custom at the BIA.
The cigarettes are valued at over Rs. 2.5 million.
Media Spokesperson for the Customs, Sunil Jayarathne said that the arrested suspects had arrived at the country from Sharjah. They have been identified as residents of Maligawaththa and Thissamaharama.
Jayarathne added that the number of cases in smuggling cigarettes into the country have significantly increased.
https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/11/26/three-arrested-on-attempt-to-smuggle-foreign-cigarettes/
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Fake cosmetics worth Dh1m seized in Dubai Police raid.
25, November 2018 l Gulf News
Dubai: Thousands of counterfeit cosmetic products valued at Dh1 million have been seized in Dubai, a police official said.
Colonel Omar Mohammad Bin Hammad, deputy director of the Anti-Economic Crime Department, said the products were seized during a raid on a warehouse in Bur Dubai.
“We received information about a warehouse with fake products. We raided the place and found 220,000 fake cosmetic products and make-up [kits] carrying famous brands’ logos. [The seized products were] worth Dh1 million,” Col Bin Hammad said. An Arab national running the warehouse was arrested.
“The warehouse was raided just before the products were to be distributed in local markets,” Col Bin hamad said. The seized products included different types of lip stick, nail polish and powder.
Colonel Bin Hamad said that people selling fake products are increasingly hawking their wares on social media, rather than on the streets.
https://gulfnews.com/uae/crime/fake-cosmetics-worth-dh1m-seized-in-dubai-police-raid-1.60319248
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Experts stress on 3 C’s to fight illicit trade.
22, November 2018 l SME Times
Experts participating at an FICCI CASCADE training programme viewed that there is a need to create communication, coordination and close cooperation amongst various government agencies, law enforcement officials and private sector to curb the growing menace of illicit trade.
FICCI organised the training program for Delhi police officials at the Academy for Smart Policing, New Delhi.
Experts at the event viewed that All speakers unanimously agreed on the fact that the existence and operation of smuggling and counterfeiting is not only broad in scope and large in value but is impacting the global economy, causing losses to both industry & government, and most importantly affecting the health and safety of the consumers adversely.
The training was inaugurated by Mr K Jagadeesan, Jt. Commissioner of Police-Training, Delhi Police.
Jagadeesan emphasized that India, as a rising economic superpower need to take offences related to counterfeiting and smuggling very seriously and police has a significant role in fighting this menace.
http://www.smetimes.in/smetimes/news/top-stories/2018/Nov/22/illicit-trade-ficci-cascade41551.html
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Bengal Man Arrested With 26 Gold Biscuits In Artificial Kneecap.
12, November 2018 | NDTV
The Border Security Force on Monday seized gold biscuits worth Rs. 95 lakh from the Indo-Bangladesh border area of West Bengal’s Nadia district and arrested a gold smuggler, a BSF officer said.
Acting on a tip-off, the BSF troopers conducted a raid near border outpost Mustafapur in Nadia district’s Krishnanagar area and arrested one Indian national with the smuggled gold biscuits.
“Lokman Pal, 47, of North 24 Parganas district’s Gangulia village was arrested with 26 gold biscuits worth Rs. 95.16 lakh while he was returning after talking to a Bangladeshi national near the international border fence,” said Rabi Ranjan, a senior officer of BSF’s South Bengal frontier.
“The accused had the gold biscuits hidden in an artificial kneecap on his right leg. He has been handed over to Bagda police station along with the seized consignment for further legal action,” he said.
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Sergey Kapinos: India, Pakistan must cooperate to fight drugs and crime.
12, November 2018 l The Statesman
Sergey Kapinos, a Russian career diplomat, assumed the post of the Representative United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for South Asia in November 2016. The office covers six South Asian countries ~ Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Prior to his appointment at UNODC, he was Ambassador, Head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Bishkek. As the Regional Representative, Kapinos’s focus is to increase awareness about the risks and impact of organised crime and corruption on the rule-of-law and security of the people in the region, and to advocate for the comprehensive implementation of the UN Conventions to counter these.
Kapinos, who was one of the speakers at a FICCI Cascade’s international conference recently, spoke to Ashok Tuteja on the margins of the meet Excerpts.
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Delhi: Court orders sealing of ‘fake’ goods worth Rs 20 lakh
09, November 2018 | Indian Express
After the intervention of a Delhi court, counterfeit products of Puma — a multinational company that manufactures footwear, apparel and accessories — worth Rs 20 lakh were identified and sealed in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, on November 3. The matter came to fore after counsel for Puma, Shashi P Ojha, approached the court seeking ex-parte injunction and ex-parte appointment of local commissioner on account of “infringement of trademark”.
On October 29, Ojha approached court and said that if the relief is not granted, the company will “suffer irreparable loss and injury” as the defendant was selling goods using the company’s trademark. “Thus causing substantial loss to the business of the plaintiff, Puma…” the lawyer submitted.
After listening to the submission, Additional District Judge Anil Antil said: “The plaintiff has been successful in making out a good prima facie case in its favour for grant of ex-parte injunction and for ex-parte appointment of local commissioner.
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25,000 counterfeit cigarettes seized from Barrow man.
08, November 2018 | The Mail
Alan Mason, of Hartington Street, Barrow, was caught in a sting at a pub in the town by Cumbria Trading Standards after a several complaints.
The 65-year-old was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000, and a victim surcharge of £85, as well as being given a 16 week curfew.
Mason pleaded guilty at Barrow Magistrates Court to selling illegal tobacco from licensed premises.
Trading standards arranged to meet Mason and buy the goods off him after a tip-off from the public.
Following this, officers visited Mason’s home where a large quantity of counterfeit cigarettes and illegal hand rolling tobacco was seized.
https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17211321.25000-counterfeit-cigarettes-seized-from-barrow-man/
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2 Women Arrested For Smuggling Gold Worth 42 Lakh At Delhi Airport: Cops
07 November 2018 | NDTV
Two Mumbai-bound women have been apprehended by the CISF at the IGI Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday for allegedly trying to smuggle eight small gold bars worth Rs. 42 lakh by concealing them in shoes, a senior official said.
The incident took place early on Tuesday when a woman security personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detected some suspicious items in the shoe of one of the women, who was identified as Karishma Thakur. Eight small gold bars were recovered from the woman’s shoes, the official said.
A CISF spokesperson said Karishma Thakur was accompanied by another woman and they had landed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport from Chennai and were supposed to take a flight to Mumbai.
“On enquiry, both the passengers could not produce any relevant document and did not give satisfactory reply. The two women, along with the recovered gold bars weighing about 1.32-kg and worth approximately Rs. 42 lakh, were handed over to Income Tax Department officials for further action,” the spokesperson said.
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