Cambodian Arrested for Smuggling Fake Smokes to Thailand
A Cambodian woman was arrested on Monday for smuggling counterfeit Thai cigarettes worth about six million baht (about $190,000) into Thailand after tripping a border alarm in Sa Kaew province, the Bangkok Post reported yesterday. The woman was named as 54-year-old Wi Raya and the report said 18 boxes containing 9,000 packs of cigarettes falsely packaged as Thai brands, such as KrongThip, Failing Rain and Wonder, were found abandoned in the area.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/28574/cambodian-arrested-for-smuggling-fake-smokes-to-thailand/
Lear MorePopping Down to the Shops and Into Australia’s Booming Tobacco Black Market
As of September 1, 2016 the tobacco tax is set to increase again. Next month’s surge is expected to raise ciggie prices by between $1.30 to $3.35 per pack, depending on size. Then between 2017 and 2020 there will likely be a steady tax rise of 12.5 percent each year.
Some have argued the rise in cigarette prices will lead to more people quitting. Others contend the price hike will add strength to an already booming tobacco black market and lead to an increase in tobacco related criminal activities. Around 14 percent of the total tobacco consumed in Australia is black market, in total about 2.4 million kilograms per year smuggled in from overseas. That means the government is left with a $1.4 billion-sized hole—lost revenue from untaxed product.
SON Decries Fake Products Imports
The Standard Organisationof Nigeria (SON), a regulatory body superintending the prevention of importation of substandard goods into the country, has decried the continuous importation of such goods into Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the Acting Director General, SON, Dr Paul Angya, said that the country has not done what it needs to do to prevent dumping of substandard products, especially from China into Nigeria.
http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2016/08/17/son-decries-fake-products-imports/
Lear More
Cambodian arrested smuggling fake Thai cigarettes
A Cambodian woman has been arrested for smuggling counterfeit Thai cigarettes worth about six million baht into Thailand after tripping a border alarm in Khlong Hat district. Paramilitary rangers rushed. She was identified as Wi Raya, 54, a Cambodian national. A total of 18 boxes containing 9,000 packs of cigarettes falsely packaged as Thai brands – KrongThip, Failing Rain and Wonder, were found abandoned.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1063025/cambodian-arrested-smuggling-fake-thai-cigarettes
Lear More
Shopkeepers given 200 hours unpaid work after fake tobacco worth £80,500 on sale
Two shopkeepers from Nottingham have each been given a 12 week sentence, suspended for 24 months, 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £711 in costs. This comes following the two men admitting having more than £80,000 worth of counterfeit and illicit tobacco for sale in their premises.
Lear MoreOver £80,000 Worth of Fake Tobacco on Sale in Two Nottingham Shops
Adnan Mohamed (29) of Dryden Street, Nottingham, who runs the Biedronka shop on Berridge Road, and Bahman Karimi,(25), of Norton Street, Nottingham, who runs Alma on Radford Road, both pleaded guilty to possessing and offering for sale illicit and counterfeit cigarettes. Karimi also admitted selling counterfeit tobacco to an underage person following a test purchase conducted by Nottingham City Trading Standards.
Lear More
One in ten cigarettes contraband, say Southampton researchers at BAT
A report commissioned by tobacco firms including BAT, still one of Southampton’s largest employers, has found that 16 per cent of cigarettes consumed in this country are either contraband or counterfeit (C&C).
As an earlier Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) report On Tap stated, organised criminals see the illegal tobacco trade as “low-risk, high-reward crime”. The overall volume of illegal cigarettes consumed in the UK during 2015 increased by more than six per cent to 6.7 billion cigarettes – the second highest increase in the EU according to the report compiled by accountancy firm KPMG.
If these black market cigarettes had been consumed legally it would have raised an additional tax revenue of 2.8 billion Euros (£2.2 billion) in the UK. Across the EU the loss of tax revenue amounted to 1.3 billion Euros.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14681057.One_in_ten_cigarettes_contraband__say_city_researchers/
Lear More
Kochi police seizes tobacco products worth Rs 40laks.
In a major haul the Kochi City police on Saturday seized smuggled cigars and foreign cigarettes from Thevara worth Rs 40 lakh. The police seized the goods from a godown in Mattummal Junction near Thevara in the wee hours of Saturday. Police arrested Ayoob of Kuttiyadi, Kozhikode, who rented out the go-down. Shadow Police wing of the city police conducted a surprise ride at the godown after a tip off.
Pursuant to the arrest Kochi city police commissioner M.P. Dinesh has ordered a detailed probe into the illicit import of tobacco products. “We will take effective steps to curb the illicit sale of tobacco products in the city,” he said. The police seized cigar and cigarettes made in Germany, Scotland, France and other countries. Apart from tobacco products the cops also found cigar pipes, rolling papers and other related products.
Stop veggie smuggling.
CORDILLERA farmers were given assurance by the Department of Agriculture that entry of illegal vegetables in the country will stop.
DA Secretary Manny Piñol during a recent farmers meeting in La Trinidad, Benguet assured farmers the government is closely monitoring the entry of illegal vegetables in the country which competes with locally grown produce and eats up farmers’ earning. armers in Benguet and the rest of the Cordilleras have been complaining that low-priced vegetables from China, Taiwan and Singapore are being dumped in the country.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2016/08/13/stop-veggie-smuggling-491063
Lear More
Counterfeit vodka finding leads to suspended sentence
Ian Baldwin of Grangeway pleaded guilty to 21 offences relating to counterfeit and illicit tobacco seized from his taxi, his personal vehicle and a storage unit last December. He was sentenced to six months and twelve weeks custody and made to pay 1000 euros in costs and 80 euros to victim’s surcharge.
A total of 26 litres of counterfeit vodka and 108 bottles of illicit wine ( not marked with traceability information) as well as illicit hand rolling tobacco and cigarettes had a street value of over 1700 euros.