NAFDAC destroys N1bn fake products in Ogun
Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake and unwholesome products worth more than N1 billion in Ogun state, west of the country.
The products destroyed included expired products which were said to have been voluntarily handed over by compliant companies in the country.Other products destroyed were fake and counterfeit drugs, prohibited substandard and expired food products, cosmetics and other regulated products.
http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/03/nafdac-destroys-n1bn-fake-products-in-ogun/
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NAFDAC destroys N1bn fake products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday destroyed fake and unwholesome products worth more than N1 billion in Ogun State. The products destroyed included expired products which were said to have been voluntarily handed over by compliant companies in the country.
Other products destroyed were fake and counterfeit drugs, prohibited substandard and expired food products, cosmetics and other regulated products.
These were seized by the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC in Lagos State and environs from manufacturers and importers as well as distributors.
Former butcher got his nickname from lucrative cigarette smuggling racket
Duggan had originally been a butcher before opting to get involved in organised crime, specialising in smuggling and fencing stolen goods. Duggan gained his nickname and became a millionaire because of his massive involvement in cigarette smuggling.
He was for many years classified as a member of the criminal gang centred around ‘The Monk’, who masterminded some of the country’s biggest robberies.
Duggan had also been involved in laundering money for the gang by buying up several properties around the city.
Vinataba: cigarette smuggling continues
Sumatra said that the National Office for Intellectual Property (NOIP) has granted 67 certificates on trademark certificates for two cigarette products to Sumatra since 1990. In reply, Tran Son Chau, CEO of Vinataba, said on December 4, 11 and 24, NOIP released 46 notices, informing Vinataba that Sumatra had not provided any additional document related to the suspension/cancelation of the validity for 46 trademarks. “As such, regarding the 46 trademarks, Sumatra cannot refute our argument that Sumatra has not used the trademarks for the last five years,” Chau said.
“On December 25 and 29, 2015, we filed 46 documents to NOIP, requesting the office to cancel and abrogate the validity of the trademarks,” he said.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/152585/vinataba–cigarette-smuggling-continues.html
Lear MoreCI, MCCS To Conduct Joint Anti-Smuggling Operations
Islamabad—In an attempt to crush cross-border smuggling, Customs Intelligence (CI) and Model Customs Collectorate (MCCs) have decided to launch joint operations.
Sources privy to current development told Pakistan Observer that following the guidelines of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the both institutions Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Model Customs Collectorates (MCCs) in future will conduct joint operations to eliminate the illegal supply of goods in Pakistan from Afghanistan.
UK Recovers GBP 1.6 Billion From Smugglers
The rapidly growing tax burdens on alcohol and tobacco are fuelling mass smuggling in the UK, although efforts by tax authorities are helping to bring a significant portion of the contraband back into the tax net. Investigations into smuggling of tobacco and cigarettes in the UK in 2015 led to the recovery of GBP 1.63 billion in taxes, according to the results of new research completed by the UK accounting firm UHY Hacker Young.
The amount of taxes collected from uncovered smuggling operations in 2015 is 6 percent higher than in the previous year.
http://www.taxationinfonews.com/2016/03/uk-recovers-gbp-1-6-billion-from-smugglers/
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Has your business been duped by counterfeit tech goods?
While fake consumer goods hit the headlines, products from all sectors of technology can be counterfeited with widespread implications for businesses. Pirated goods, knock off, counterfeits – fake products are dangerous, whatever term we use to describe them. Violations against Intellectual Property are increasing and with every bogus product that hits the market, the risk of damage to people and to enterprise grows. Consumer electronics are heavily affected by trade in fake products. Counterfeiting of iPhones is rampant in China, such that police in Beijing last year shut down a counterfeit manufacturing operation and seized more than 40,000 fake iPhones valued at more than £13 million.
How things have changed thanks to the nanny state
I HAD to smile at the headline ‘Investigators smoking out smuggled tobacco’ March 26. I can only hope they have more success than their predecessors of the 1980s. As a small local cigarette vending company owner in Derby Street and dealing with many well known pubs and clubs in the Bolton area, it became apparent that cigarette and hand rolling tobacco smuggling was becoming an increasing problem to the Revenue.
The VAT and Revenue furnished many legitimate tobacco and alcohol wholesalers and retails with an information telephone number to report any suspicions of any pubs or clubs selling such products under the counter.
Bulgarian tobacco firm to halt exports to Middle East after smuggling claims
Bulgarian tobacco company Bulgartabac said it would halt sales to the Middle East as of April 1, following media allegations its products made up a large part of the cigarettes illegally smuggled into neighboring Turkey.Bulgartabac denied any wrongdoing, adding its exports had been carried out in full compliance with customs and trade legislation, which had been confirmed by customs and tax audits. “Given the sensitive situation in the Middle East, Bulgartabac is stopping exports to the region in order to prevent the involvement of the company in artificially created reputation problems that couldcompletely ruin it,” Bulgartabac said in a statement.
Authorities foil attempt to smuggle 3 tons of tobacco into Gaza
The security guards at the Sha’ar Ephraim crossing between Gaza and Israel, along with security guards from the Tax Authority, prevented an attempt to smuggle three tons of tobacco into Gaza.
The tobacco originated in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority and was hidden in solar panels.
Tax Authority agents confiscated the contraband and have opened an investigation into those involved in the smuggling attempt.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/354640#.Vu_aNtJ97IU
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