Consumers group calls for ‘all-out war’ against smuggling
A consumers’ group has called for an “all-out war” against smuggling, saying it has a dire effect on the poorest members of the population “just like illegal drugs.”
Rodolfo “RJ” Javellana Jr., president of the civil society group United Filipino Consumers & Commuters (UFCC), said smuggling undermined state authority and government-led development by fueling corruption and hurting the economy.
“This in turn affects the livelihood opportunities and quality of life of Filipinos, especially the poor,” Javellana said in a statement.
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iBan? Iran wants to put an end to iPhone smuggling by banning product altogether
Regardless of whether it’s through the use of Twinkies boxes, slingshots, crossbows, or even your own body, iPhone smuggling is a real issue in several parts of the world. One of those areas appears to be Iran, which threatened Apple with an iPhone ban in the hope of curbing smuggling, according to Japan Times.
Similar to India, Apple does not officially sell iPhones in Iran, even though the company is reportedly in negotiations to change that. Even so, 40 million Iranians are reported to use smartphones, with millions of iPhones said to be smuggled into the country.
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/iban-iran-wants-put-end-003517133.html
Lear MoreDRI seizes red sanders worth over Rs 8 crore in multiple raids across Mumbai
According to sources, a part of the consignment of red sanders seized by the agency was allegedly being smuggled from NhavaSheva port in Navi Mumbai to Dubai using forged shipping documents.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 21.3 tonnes of red sanders worth over Rs 8 crore from a repeat offender in multiple raids across the city, said official sources.
According to sources, a part of the consignment of red sanders seized by the agency was allegedly being smuggled from NhavaSheva port in Navi Mumbai to Dubai using forged shipping documents. The consignment originated from Pelhar-Palghar region of Thane district, the sources said.
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The curious connection between illicit cigarette sales and ISIS
Are loosies a terrorist revenue stream? State Rep. Rick Saccone thinks so.
During a session ahead of a vote on the state budget’s revenue package last week, Saccone, a Republican from Allegheny County, objected to a proposed $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase Wednesday. The new tax, which Governor Wolf signed into law later that day, raises the state’s levy to $2.60 per pack. Saccone viewed this as earning revenue off the backs of the poor, but also he was wary that price hikes might encourage smuggling rings that send money to violent extremists.
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Fake Super Glue floods market
The Alteco Chemical PTE Ltd., a company that produces Alteco 11O Super Glue, has raised an alarm over the faking of its product across the country.
Mr Ifeanyi Dike, the company’s Media Consultant, said on Sunday in Onitsha that the company’s products that were faked and worth millions of naira were confiscated during several raids in Onitsha, Aba and Lagos.
Dike, who noted that over 100 shops were raided in Onitsha alone, said the raid was carried out in collaboration with the Police after obtaining Anton Pillar Order from court.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/07/17/fake-super-glue-floods-market/
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Special Report: Illegal cigarettes easily available in rural Cork areas
Illegal cigarettes, either counterfeit or contraband, are as easily available in rural areas of Cork as they are in the city. An undercover team of operatives, led by two former senior police officers, uncovered sufficient evidence of the illegal trade in North Cork within a period of just a few hours.
One female operative, a smoker, targets licensed premises in Fermoy, Mallow and Mitchelstown and, after striking up conversations with other smokers, was provided with contact numbers for people selling cheap tobacco products.
Lear MoreTobacco smuggling shoots up by 28 per cent
The amount of tobacco smuggled into Malta grew by some 28 per cent last year, costing the Treasury about €10 million in lost revenue, an EU-wide report seen by the Sunday Times of Malta has estimated.
The study found that while the total legal consumption of cigarettes declined the amount of contraband and counterfeit cigarettes entering the Maltese market went up..
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Counterfeit goods: hotspots and why they are so dangerous
A new BBC investigation has found that the black market for counterfeit goods is doing a roaring trade, particularly in certain parts of the UK.
The most commonly-seized items are clothing and accessories, followed by mobile phone accessories, perfume and cosmetics, tobacco, electrical goods, alcohol, DVDs, vehicle parts and footwear.
Counterfeit goods are becoming more dangerous, with fraudsters faking big brand foods including chocolate bars and bottles of false shampoo.
The trade in counterfeit goods is also having an effect on British business. Many people buy fake items thinking only of the saving they are making not the fact they could be contributing to the death of small local businesses.
Lear MoreFICCI CASCADE associates with NACEN to organize ‘Socio-Economic Impact of Illicit Trade’
The objective was to sensitize trainee officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) on the ill effects of illicit trade with special focus on the impact of smuggling on the economy, and society as a whole.
FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) in association with the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics, (NACEN) organized a capacity building programme on the ‘Socio-Economic Impact of Illicit Trade’ on July 15 at NACEN, Faridabad. The objective was to sensitize trainee officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) on the ill effects of illicit trade with special focus on smuggling on the economy, and on the society as a whole.
Lear MoreSubstandard quality of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides haunts farmers.
“Agriculture department joint director from Vizianagaram district, GSNS Leelavathi told TOI that they plan to form enforcement teams to inspect the quality of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.” Taking advantage of the farmers, the private traders sell fake, illicit and substandard products to them,” Prakash explained.The farmers approach these private traders for loans due to the government not including them in the loan waiver scheme. “Mandal agriculture officer will act as the quality control inspector by collecting the samples of each product from all the traders. As the agriculture season has just begun, we took time and will implement the measures by this month,” Leelavathi said. They then black market the stock and force farmers to buy the produce.
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