State Department group sees illicit cigarette trafficking as security threat
Virginia – A recent U.S. Department of State report on illegal tobacco trafficking deems it a lucrative revenue source for organized crime and terrorists in addition to costing state and local governments in the U.S. an estimated $3 billion to $7 billion in tax losses each year. Internationally, it fuels transnational crime, corruption, and terrorism,” the report says. “As it converges with other criminal activities, it undermines the rule of law and the licit market economy, and creates greater insecurity and instability in many of today’s security ‘hot spots’ around the world. Illicit tobacco provides a significant revenue stream to illicit actors without the high risks and punishments associated with trafficking in narcotics or humans.
The most recent estimate of the global tax loss to black market cigarette trafficking is $40 billion to $50 billion, the report says.
Over 27m contraband cigarettes destroyed
Dengkil — Over 27 million contraband cigarettes seized by the Federal Territory Customs Department since 1997 was destroyed at the Enforcement Division of Dengkil Customs Office here today. The cigarettes, consisting various brands, weighed 23.59 tonnes and valued at RM2.8 million and RM16.82 million in unpaid taxes. A total of 1,003 people were arrested in relation to the distribution and sale of these cigarettes in which some 50 percent were foreigners.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/12/115472/over-27m-contraband-cigarettes-destroyed
Lear MoreNewcastle’s biggest ever haul of seized illegal cigarettes and alcohol
Newcastle – Sniffer dogs YoYo and Scamp helped officers from Newcastle’s trading standards team search five properties across the city – uncovering 30,000 illegal cigarettes, illegal tobacco, and more than 400 bottles of whisky and vodka.
The bounty with a street value of £15,000 were uncovered by the specially trained sniffer dogs.
A total of 430 bottles of suspected illicit whisky and vodka and 14,000 cigarettes were seized from two shops in the West End along with a further 800 cigarettes from a city centre takeaway.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/see-newcastles-biggest-ever-haul-10543245
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Four north shields off-licences raided in counterfeit tobacco crackdown
Tyneside – Sharp-nosed dogs helped to sniff out a hidden stash of illegal tobacco across shops in Tyneside. The animals are trained to locate tobacco in hidden concealments, such as in ceiling areas, behind panels and under floorboards.
Based on intelligence received by the team, searches were carried out at four off-licences in the North Shields area. Inside were dozens of packets of Super King and Mayfair cigarettes as well as hand rolling Turner tobacco. The seized items were a mixture of counterfeit products and those that had no duty paid, officials said. The sale of illegal cigarettes costs the public purse billions each year in unpaid duty, not to mention the obvious health risks associated with smoking which will be felt by young people who these items are regularly sold to.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/four-north-shields-licences-raided-10541043
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Scant evidence EU tobacco deal curbed smuggling
Brussels – According to the Commission, EU member states reported that they seized 4.5 billion cigarettes in 2005, and 3.1 billion in 2013. In a 2013 report to the parliament and national capitals, the commission said that the agreement with Phillip Morris International(PMI), and three others like it with the other big tobacco companies, “have clearly led to a significant reduction in the presence of these companies’ products on the illicit market”.
In 2011, the share of seized cigarettes with “other brands”, i.e. brands from companies that don’t have an agreement with the EU, reached 58 percent.But a decreased share of PMI’s cigarettes in seizures does not automatically mean an absolute decrease in smuggled goods, just as that a rise in police reports does not directly prove an increase in crime.
https://euobserver.com/investigations/131266
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Mirrored in fake imitations
The small hamlet of Aranmula situated on the banks of the Pampa river is known internationally for its unique metal mirror, Aranmula Kannadi. This marvellous piece of ancient metallurgy is now facing threat from fake imitations.
The ancient technology behind it is restricted to a very few families of craftsmen.
But now others are trying their hand in the unique mirror-making process.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mirrored-in-fake-imitations/article7932025.ece
Lear MoreBulgaria Deputy PM: Counteracting smuggling of excise goods one of govt’s main priorities
Rumyana Bachvarova, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for Coalition Policy and Public Administration and Minister of Interior, held a working meeting at the ministry building with representatives of five leading tobacco companies in Bulgaria.
Market research ordered by the five companies was presented at the meeting, the press centre of the ministry announced.
“Counteracting the smuggling of excise goods is one of the main priorities of the government – the motives for that are both of fiscal and general nature,” said Minister Bachvarova, speaking at the event.
Uganda adopts SMS to check fake farm inputs
REAL DEAL: Each year, Uganda loses $1.5 billion of revenue in counterfeit agricultural items, like seeds which experts say will be saved by the E-tag system. KAMPALA, UGANDA – Uganda has tightened the fight against counterfeit and substandard agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, chemicals among other items flooding the Uganda market by launching the E-tag electronic verification system. “Proliferation of substandard agro inputs in the Ugandan market is very high at 30% across the country. This is not only causing economic loss, but also leading to destruction of livelihoods.
“Agriculture being the backbone of Uganda, we cannot afford to lose anymore,” Dr. Ben Manyindo, the Chief Executive Officer, Uganda National Bureau of Standards said, at the launch of the E-tag system last week.
LEBQ? Don’t get caught by these dangerous fake toys this Christmas
WHILE The Force Awakens for Star Wars fans across the globe this Christmas, some children may be in for a stocking full of dangerous counterfeit action figures.
Cashing in on the popularity of major movie franchises, dodgy retailers are flogging cheap rubbish to unsuspecting parents with no regard to safety standards.
In a single afternoon browsing Melbourne’s discount stores news.com.au found them awash with knock off Star Wars, Lego, Avengers, Minecraft, Superman, Pokemon, Nintendo, and Disney products.
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More than 41 tonnes of smuggled tobacco seized
TAG: 41 tonnes smuggled tobacco seized Guardia Civil Spanish cigarettes IVA special taxes laws Jaen Madrid tobacco shops tobacco distribution companies 400 kilos of tobacco rolling tobacco machines for cutting Poland Bangladesh
THE Guardia Civil, in collaboration with the Treasury Ministry, has seized more than 41 tonnes of tobacco in the largest tobacco seizure in Spanish history. The amount of tobacco is estimated to be enough to fill four million packets of cigarettes and has a market value of about €6,640,000.
Eleven members of the organisation have been arrested. They are being charged with smuggling and tax fraud, with the total amount of fraud adding up to €5,500,000 when taking into account IVA, special taxes and customs laws.
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