Large-scale smuggling of agricultural products as economic sabotage: seriously?
The problem of smuggling in the Philippines has reached horrendous heights. It retards agricultural production, limits manufacturing, and increases income inequality.
“Smuggling in the Philippines is at its worst under President Aquino’s administration, with the smuggled value averaging $19.6 billion annually, an explosion from the comparable figures of $3.1 billion and $3.8 billion yearly during the terms of Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, respectively,” says Rigoberto Tiglao, a noted opinion writer, citing data from the International Monetary Fund.
Fighting smuggling would bring in more revenue
The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. George Blankson recently reported that the GRA exceeded its 2015 revenue target of GH¢ 21.57 by collecting GH¢ 22.17 billion. Refreshing as that news is, there, however, is still a lot more to be done to rake in more tax revenue for Ghana’s development against the backdrop of the sustained and increasing activities of smugglers. This calls for a sustained fight against smuggling activities on the part of stakeholders, the citizenry and the security agencies.
Nigeria: Customs Boss Accuses Elite of Aiding Smuggling
Owerri — The Area Controller of Customs, Federal Operation Units, Zone C’ Owerri, HarunaMmamadu, has accused the rich and educated members of the society of aiding smuggling of certain goods into the country. He spoke while displaying goods seized within the past three months. He lamented that importers have continued to flout restriction order placed on certain products by the Comptroller General of Customs.
“All these trucks you see here are not owned by poor people; they belong to the rich in the society who have continued to aid and abet the illegal importation of contraband products into the country,” he said.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201604030061.html
Lear More
Counterfeit Drug Vending Poses Health Threats To Lives In PNG
Counterfeit products has become a platform of discussions but yet little has being done about the economic and health ramifications for governments, businesses and consumers of this country.
Just recently, police in Lae have confiscated 526 containers of counterfeit deodorant body spry called “A touch of Magic” that comes in aerosol containers in eight colours allegedly sold in some suspected shops in Lae, Morobe Province (Wed, March 30, 2016. P6).
It indicates that there are more than just deodorants. Its endemic in this country thus has posed huge questions on our authorities who have failed to monitor sinister trends.
Vocal and vibrant Oro Governor Jerry Juffa just recently asked Members of Parliament on how government departments were managing quality assurance.
http://news.pngfacts.com/2016/04/counterfeit-drug-vending-poses-health.html
Lear MoreDerek White arrested
Canadian racer Derek White has been arrested and charged for his role in tobacco-smuggling and drug-running operations. He was charged on three counts each of conspiracy and fraud against the government and one count of profiteering as a criminal organization. White was one of approximately 60 people arrested.
Lear More
85 percent pictorial warning will increase smuggling of foreign cigarettes
The rule requiring that packets of tobacco products carry larger pictorial health warning will increase smuggling into India of foreign cigarettes that come without such a warning, said a farmers’ grouping on Friday. “It is a black day for us. By implementing the 85 percent pictorial warning rule, the government is actually trying to murder the tobacco farmers,” MuraliBabu, general secretary of the Federation of All India Farmers’ Associations (FAIFA), told IANS.
The rule increasing the display area of the pictorial health warning on packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products from 40 percent to 85 percent came into effect on Friday. That will be in addition to textual health warning.
BMW Brand Protection – Fake Products, Real Threats
Counterfeiting is often regarded as a victimless “soft” crime, however recent estimates suggest the annual cost of counterfeiting to the automotive industry has now reached £28 billion.
In order to protect our customers and our brand, BMW Brand Protection teams work closely with customs, law enforcement, detective agencies and law firms to tackle the growing issue of counterfeit items such as spare parts, accessories and lifestyle merchandise. A shocking 58 per cent of all counterfeit car parts are purchased online which at first appear to be a bargain, yet often prove to be an inferior quality imitation, presenting potentially serious risk and consequence.
http://www.fleetpoint.org/top-news/bmw-brand-protection-fake-products-real-threats/
Lear MoreSix Nations man wanted in Canada’s largest tobacco-smuggling bust
An Ohsweken man is wanted for allegedly being a buyer in a smuggling ring that involved selling contraband tobacco on Six Nations.
The 38-year-old man was out of the country when about 60 people were arrested Wednesday in a bust headed by the Quebec provincial police.
“He’s not fleeing,” said Quebec police spokesperson Lieutenant Jason Allard. “He just happened to be out of the country. They are just going to wait for him to come back.”
Federal prison nurse sentenced for $22,000 tobacco-smuggling scheme
A former nurse at the federal prison in Lexington was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison for smuggling tobacco into the prison in exchange for payments from inmates. Michael Hardin, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Danny Reeves on a charge of bribery of a public official. Under federal law, Hardin must serve the entire sentence, then and three years of supervised release, the first year of which is home detention.
Hardin was a registered nurse at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington.
According to his plea agreement, from July 2014 to August 2015, Hardin smuggled cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco into the prison for inmates, who paid him a total of $22,429 in return. The inmates used relatives and friends to send money to Hardin.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article69196947.html
Lear MoreEU agreements to fight cigarette smuggling
An idea regarding an upcoming European Parliament meeting. MEPs will quiz the Commission on the four agreements currently in force between the EU and Philip Morris International (PMI), Japan Tobacco International (JTI), Imperial Tobacco Limited (ITL) and British American Tobacco (BAT) to fight cigarette smuggling. Members will ask for an assessment, including the possible financial implications, and will question whether these agreements should be prolonged. The agreement with PMI is due to expire in July 2016.
We can attend the Parliament meeting and get all the details. Is it likely that MEPs will extend the agreement? If it is, and if it is not, how will this affect the European tobacco industry?
http://www.internationalnewsservices.com/stories-for-sale/38224-2
Lear More