Customs agency nails 7 cigarette smugglers
South Korea’s customs authorities said Tuesday they have arrested or indicted seven men for smuggling in cigarettes worth 6.4 billion won (US$5.8 million). Four suspects allegedly imported some 800,000 packs of Korean-made cigarettes worth 3.5 billion won from the Philippines through Busan seaport and reported them as wooden chairs after stealing them from a bonded warehouse between November 2014 and March 2016, according to the Korea Customs Service. Three were accused of smuggling 500,000 packages of British tobacco from the United Arab Emirates into South Korea by disguising them as plastic toolboxes and then exporting them to a third country. One suspect allegedly smuggled 40,000 packs of South Korean cigarettes. The agency has caught 239 cases of smuggling through June this year, involving 6.7 billion won worth of cigarettes.The South Korean government raised the price of cigarettes to 4,000-4,500 won per pack from 2,500 won for public health reasons and to increase tax revenue.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2016/08/09/0501000000AEN20160809005600320.html
Lear MoreMore than 1.4 million illegal cigarettes seized in tobaccoraids
More than 1.4 million counterfeit and illicit cigarettes have been seized by specialist tobacco sniffer dogs in a campaign across 14 local trading standards areas across Central England.
The campaign, which also saw 515 kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 1.7 tons of niche tobacco seized, was run by council teams in the Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CEnTSA).
The goods were seized in the last financial year (2015/16) with a loss of duty to the government around £30,000. The total retail value of the illegal goods is estimated to be worth in excess of £1 million. In addition, some shops had their alcohol licences suspended or revoked for dealing with counterfeit and illicit tobacco products.
Lear More
Brit caught smuggling
A British national who attempted to smuggle tobacco and cigarettes from the north was on Tuesday hit with a hefty fine after having the duty free products seized.
Customs officers manning the checkpoint in Ledra street stopped the man, who was carrying ten kilos of rolling tobacco and 13 cartons of cigarettes, on none of which had the duty been paid.
The man was arrested for customs offences and the products were confiscated as liable to forfeiture. The total import duty and taxes attributable to the tobacco amounted to €2,088 and to the cigarettes €456.
http://cyprus-mail.com/2016/08/09/brit-caught-smuggling/
Lear MoreNo ban on tobacco imports for now, says Sitharaman
Reiterating the government’s stance in reply to members’ concern in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour over illegal import of tobacco and urging the government to disincentivise legal imports, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “Any ban on imports has to be imposed on domestic production also. So, we have to be conscious if we can stop the total import of any commodity. But, do we stop the production of tobacco in this country? We also have to give effective alternatives to the farmers.” Sitharaman said tobacco imports had remained in the range of $40.9 million, but what was of great concern was the rise in smuggling.
Lear More
12 arrested in alleged counterfeit goods raid
Twelve people were arrested as part of an alleged counterfeit goods ring at a discount mall in College Park, police said Tuesday.
More than 6,600 products, valued at more than $1.8 million if the items had been real, were seized from The Discount Mall in the raid Monday,College Park police spokesman Lt. Cody Smith said. Items included purses, glasses, wallets and CDs.
The mall was raided by federal agents after vendors were accused of selling counterfeit goods.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/12-arrested-in-alleged-counterfeit-goods-raid/nsCwJ/
Lear MoreFake toner products worth Dh35m seized in RAK
Ras Al Khaimah Police have seized counterfeit products including ink and toner cartridges worth Dh35 million from a villa in RAK city and a warehouse in another emirate and busted a gang of Asians involved in the crime.
Brigadier Abdullah Khamis Al Hadidi, acting chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police, said on Tuesday the Organised Crimes Section of Ras Al Khaimah Police was alerted about some Asian residents dealing in counterfeit products of a number of well-known trademarks. The gang rented a villa in a residential area to cover their crime.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/crime/fake-toner-products-worth-dh35m-seized-in-rak-1.1876360
Lear MoreNorth Korean diplomat kicked out for smuggling.
Han Son Ik, the first secretary of the North Korean embassy in Dhaka, has been ordered to leave the country after failing to declare the goods worth nearly half a million dollars to customs. Bangladesh has kicked out a North Korean diplomat after he was caught smuggling more than one million cigarettes as well as electronics into the country in a shipping container. The diplomat declared that his cargo contained food and soft drinks. But when we opened the cargo, we found 1.6 million stalks of expensive cigarettes and electronics. At market prices these products are valued at 35 million taka ($430,000).
http://www.siasat.com/news/north-korean-diplomat-kicked-smuggling-998837/
Lear More
Bangladesh expels North Korean diplomat for smuggling
A North Korean diplomat has been asked to leave Bangladesh for allegedly smuggling more than a million cigarettes. Bangladesh has ordered a North Korean diplomat to leave the country after he was caught smuggling in goods worth nearly half a million US dollars.
Han Son Ik, the first secretary of the North Korean embassy in the capital Dhaka, attempted to smuggle one million cigarettes as well as electronics in a shipping container, Bangladeshi officials said on Monday.
“The diplomat declared that his cargo contained food and soft drinks. But when we opened the cargo, we found 1.6 million stalks of expensive cigarettes and electronics,” Moinul Khan, head of intelligence at Bangladesh customs, told the AFP news agency.
Tobacco products’ smuggling posing serious problem: Sitharaman
The Minister said ways were being explored to completely stop tobacco production in the country and provide alternatives to the tobacco farmers.
Smuggling of tobacco products has posed a serious problem for the government as legal import of cigarettes was less than those coming in through illegal channels, Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman said today. Sitharaman said it was a matter of concern that smuggling of tobacco products into the country was more than those coming through legal routes. “Our concern is illegal import of tobacco products. Illegal imports are increasing. We are trying to strengthen the borders so that illegal imports can be stopped. Commerce Ministry is in regular touch with Finance Ministry under which the customs department falls,” she said during Question Hour.
Lear MoreDubai Customs seizes fake goods worth Dh38. 4M
A total of 95 seizures of fake products worth Dh38.4 million were carried out by Dubai Customs inspectors during the first half of 2016.The seized goods included fake watches, sunglasses, electronics, auto spare parts, textiles, bags and footwear, they said.
The smuggling of counterfeit goods has been on a downward trend in the past two years, as Dubai Customs is playing a primary role in stopping the movement of fake goods and all attempts that violate intellectual property rights (IPR).
IPR protection in Dubai is crucial in light of the UAE’s orientation to unleash the spirit of creativity and innovation in government work and to provide all means of support to creative minds and talented people, in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/dubai-customs-seizes-fake-goods-worth-dh38-4m-1.1873048
Lear More