News

Italians spent 6.9 bn on counterfeits

Italians spent 6.9 billion euros on counterfeit products in 2015, up 4.4% on 2012, according to a study conducted by research institute Censis for the industry ministry and published Tuesday. Producing and selling the same products legally would create an additional 100,515 jobs and increase domestic production by 18.6 billion euros, with an added value of 6.7 billion euros. It would also increase tax revenue by 5.7 billion euros, the study found. Fake products are sold at street stands, in warehouses and private homes, on websites and by mail delivery and are becoming increasingly diversified in terms of the quality, price and type of product.

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/business/2016/06/14/italians-spent-6.9-bn-on-counterfeits_7ab2d523-b266-4b6e-8c28-92ebc073597f.html

Calgary man accused of smuggling 222 kg of undeclared tobacco into Canada

A Calgary man is accused of smuggling 222 kilograms of undeclared tobacco into Canada in what’s believed to be the largest seizure of tobacco in the Prairie region in the past five years.Officers with the Canada Border Services Agency made the seizure at the North Portal border crossing in Saskatchewan on April 6.Abdul Al Khaqani, 56, of Calgary, was charged on June 3 with smuggling, making false statements, failing to report imported goods and wilfully evading the payment of duties on imported goods under the Customs Act, along with unlawful possession under the Excise Act.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/calgary-man-accused-of-smuggling-222-kg-of-undeclared-tobacco-into-canada

State’s tobacco revenues up in smoke

The doubling of tobacco taxes at the end of 2012 coupled with a hike of around 20 per cent in cigarette levies has not added a single cent to state coffers over the last three years, official figures from the Customs and Excise Department confirm.In fact, not only were there zero gains for the state from the higher prices imposed at the end of 2012, but it lost another €13 million on top of that in 2013, raking in €200 million compared to €213 million in 2012, and has continued to steadily lose revenue in the years since.Estimated losses to the state over the past three years, according to information from the industry, have been in the region of €90 million, taking into account what should have accrued from the 2012 tax hike.

Official figures show that last year, revenues dropped to €189 million from €196 million in 2014.

http://cyprus-mail.com/2016/06/12/states-tobacco-revenues-smoke/

UK sees surge in illegal cigarettes

Consumption of counterfeit and contraband cigarettes in the UK surged by almost 50% in 2014, costing the government about £2bn in lost tax revenue, according to a new report.
The surge was driven by an increase in black market tobacco from Belarus and Pakistan, which now – along with Poland – produce one-in-two illegal cigarettes coming into the UK. The Fest brand from Belarus now accounts for 40% of “illicit whites” – cigarettes produced legally in one market but destined primarily for smuggling – coming into the UK.

http://www.talkingretail.com/category-news/independent-news/uk-sees-surge-illegal-cigarettes/

UK sees fake electrical goods a-rising

British consumers are buying more and more counterfeit electrical products, according to Electrical Safety First research published on Anti-Counterfeiting Day on 8 June.The charity investigated consumer attitudes towards counterfeit electrical goods over the past year and found fake items are becoming more prevalent for British consumers and more visible online, compared to a year ago.Social media platforms have also functioned a new marketplace for counterfeit goods. Seven percent of respondents said they purchased products through social media advertising.

http://ipprotheinternet.com/ipprotheinternetnews/article.php?article_id=4947#.V3pdQ0t97IU

Highly-Taxed Europe Flooded With 53 Billion Illegal Cigarettes

Europe consumed 53 billion illegal cigarettes in 2015, causing almost $13 billion in tax revenue to go up in smoke, according to a KPMG report released Wednesday.

The number of illegal cigarettes smoked in the European Union (EU) exceeds the entire legal market in Spain and accounts for one in 10 cigarettes smoked in the EU, says the report.

Although cigarette smuggling in the EU is still running at industrial like levels, the volume has actually declined a little from 2014 thanks to law enforcement activities and increasing growth of the EU economy.
http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/09/highly-taxed-europe-flooded-with-53-billion-illegal-cigarettes/

Coventry smokers who buy illegal tobacco helping to sustain criminal gangs

Coventry smokers who buy illegal tobacco products are helping to sustain criminal gangs who make millions from the illicit trade.That’s the stark message from Crimestoppers, the UK’s crime-fighting charity, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of the illicit trade.The warning is also backed up by the taxman, with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) confirming that the global trade in tobacco smuggling is dominated by organised crime gangs, boosting the crooks’ coffers and damaging legitimate businesses.
 

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-smokers-who-buy-illegal-11445236

Copenhagen Airport confiscated over 50,000 counterfeit products

The Danish Customs and Tax Administration (SKAT) seized a total of 51,021 counterfeit items worth of 172 million kroner during security checks at Copenhagen Airport last year.
The confiscated fake products included everything from clothes and shoes to electronics and medicine.
 

http://cphpost.dk/news/business/copenhagen-airport-confiscated-over-50000-counterfeit-products.html