Coast makes it easy for illegal tobacco smuggling to be industry in own right
Torquay – The close proximity of the English Channel to South Devon has made it easy for tobacco to be illegally smuggled.
It is an ongoing issue and it is increasing, particularly as a result of the high levels of taxation in the country. The level of roll-your-own cigarettes is higher than average in the south west, and they are easier to smuggle.
People are finding more ways to smuggle cigarettes into the country, be it legal or illegal, and it is having a massive effect on retailers.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/746393/whos-investigating-fake-chinese-goods-fake-investigators
Lear MorePolice bust alleged illicit tobacco importation gang
Melbourne – Police have seized more than $8 million of assets after busting an alleged illicit tobacco importation gang. The cigarettes, and 44.5kg of molasses tobacco, was imported into Melbourne by air. The consignment was declared as printer and mobile phone accessories. ACC acting Executive Director Operations, Col Blanch, said organised crime is entrenched within the illicit tobacco market in Australia. “Organised criminals perceive the illicit tobacco market to be a low risk, high profit enterprise. However, this investigation demonstrates that the risk is increasing,” Mr Blanch said.
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Bac Giang destroys smuggled Chinese products
BAC GIANG— BacGiang’s market management forces yesterday confiscated and destroyed three tonnes of smuggled Chinese traditional medicines and farm products. The destroyed goods were estimated to be worth about VND1.7 billion (nearly US$76,000). The smuggled medicines and farm products were detected and seized while they were being transported from Lang Son to BacGiang. The owner of the goods, Bui Minh Duc from Lang Son Province, could not show any legal documents linked to the cargo.
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/279903/bac-giang-destroys-smuggled-chinese-products.html
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Former county corrections officer pleads guilty in contraband smuggling operation
Annapolis – A former county corrections officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from a contraband smuggling operation at Jennifer Road Detention Center in Annapolis. James Newsome, 25, of St. Mary’s County, is the fourth and final former corrections officer to plead guilty in Anne Arundel Circuit Court to charges stemming from contraband smuggling at Jennifer Road Detention Center.
Tobacco trafficking funds crime, terrorism
Virginia – Organized crime has long profited from black-market deals in prohibited or expensively regulated goods ,ranging from bootlegged liquor, to prostitutes, to guns. Organized terrorism has taken a cue from that history. Virginia also is popular with cigarette smugglers because our taxes on tobacco are relatively low. That profit falls into the pockets both of organized crime and of terrorism, says a new State Department report. The same groups that deal in cigarette smuggling also are linked to weapons smuggling and sex trafficking.
The State Department estimates that cigarette smuggling is costing state and local governments $3 billion to $7 billion each year.
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Police find thousands of pounds of illegal tobacco in Tredworth
Tredworth – Police raided a house in Tredworth alongside trading standard officers last week as the house was believed to store illegal tobacco for a shop in the city. In total the officers found 1175 packs of 20 cigarettes and 338 pouches of 50g hand rolling tobacco, hidden in kitchen cupboards, in the fridge and under carpets. It is believed that the tobacco was being stored at the private premises to avoid large quantities being discovered in the shop by officers.
800,000 fewer illegal cigarettes on our region’s streets
More than 800,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized by West Yorkshire Trading Standards as part of a crackdown on illegal tobacco on the region’s streets. Illegal tobacco worth a street value if over £140,000 has been seized since April 2014 as part of the Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme.
Smuggled cigarettes seized
Lahore – In two different raids in Lahore on Friday and Saturday, Law Enforcement Authorities raided retailers selling smuggled cigarettes. According to sources, despite governments warnings through advertisements, cigarette retailers and wholesalers continued selling illegal cigarettes. FBR created awareness against illegal cigarettes along with the consequences for selling them, not only through newspaper advertisements but also through billboards and even Cinema advertisements. The raids on the retailers come after a huge stock seizure of 450 cartons of cigarettes by Customs Intelligence team.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/81611-Smuggled-cigarettes-seized
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Black Country cigarette smuggler jailed for three years
Gulan Shaikh, aged 64, of Essington Road, Willenhall, was spotted using a mobile phone while driving in September 2014. Officers who searched his van found 16 boxes containing cigarettes and rolling tobacco. The officers then searched his home, where over 57,000 cigarettes were stored in the garage. Altogether, it was estimated Shaikh’s collection of cigarettes and tobacco totalled £102,180.
Fake cement hits Malawi market
One of the cement manufacturing companies in Malawi, Lafarge, has expressed concern over the huge number of fake cement being found on the market. After conducting a survey in Chirimba Township in Blantyre, Lafarge found that most businesses are selling the company’s cement illegally. The company has promised to proceed with the survey in all parts of the country and has assured that all sellers of counterfeit cement will face the law.Lafarge is doing the research together with the Malawi Bureau of Standards as well as Malawi Police.
http://malawi24.com/2015/12/13/fake-cement-hits-malawi-market/
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