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Ramanathapuram: In a joint operation with Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Customs Preventive Unit (CPU), Ramanathapuram, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 4.9 Kgs of foreign origin gold at mid sea near Vedhalai coast, Mandapam in Tamil Nadu.

According to an official release, specific intelligence was developed by the officers of DRI that foreign-origin gold is being smuggled into India from Srilanka through the Vedhalai coast in Ramnathapuram District by a gang using a fishing boat.

Accordingly, officers of DRI and ICG mounted surveillance over the movement of suspected fishing boats at the Vedhalai Coastal area near Mandapam on the intervening night of April 3 and 4.

“In the early hours of April 4, the officers identified a suspected boat at mid-sea and chased the same in an ICG vessel and intercepted it. Just before the point of interception, the officers noticed that a consignment was thrown into the sea by one of the persons on board the suspected boat,” the release said.

https://www.dynamitenews.com/story/tamil-nadu-dri-seizes-49-kgs-of-smuggled-foreign-origin-gold-in-ramanathapuram-1

As per officials, the operation was conducted on the basis of intelligence report. The recovered haul included 135 sacks of smuggled betel nut valued at Rs4.5 million, along with 350 packets of various brands of foreign cigarettes and 27 bags containing foreign clothing. The contraband was ingeniously concealed within the secret compartments of a passenger bus traveling from Quetta.

A government official reiterated that the law enforcement agencies are committed to combating smuggling activities, affirming the continuation of robust anti-smuggling initiatives. Following the seizure, authorities have initiated legal proceedings, including the registration of a case, and have confiscated both the smuggled items and the bus used in the illicit trade.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461429/huge-quantity-of-smuggled-goods-seized

Dubai: The Economic Crimes Department of the Dubai Police General Department of Criminal Investigations registered 1,297 reports of intellectual property (IP) violations and the promotion of counterfeit goods in the last five years, with an estimated value of Dh8.79 billion.

The cases involved 1,339 suspects, official data showed.

The police also underscored the importance of protecting IP rights amidst digital transformations. Earlier this year, the force cautioned against IP crimes, highlighting links to drug trade and organised crime.

Counterfeiting generates $43 billion in the EU, surpassing drug revenue. The force also carried out 122 recycling operations of counterfeit goods, which included about 694,000 pieces.

https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/dubai-dh87-billion-worth-of-counterfeit-goods-seized-1.101289748

Balangir: The Patnagarh police on Thursday arrested two persons in Balangir district for allegedly printing and circulating fake Indian currency notes of 500 denominations and seized lakhs of counterfeit notes from them.

The accused persons were identified as Baruna Panuan, who hails from Bhainsa under Patnagarh police station and Rohit Bastia of Budhabahal village under Deogaon police station.

As per reports, police seized 274 fake notes worth Rs 1,37,000. A computer, a printer, ink and printing paper were also seized from the possession of the accused.

According to police sources, the fake notes racket was uncovered when Barun gifted a fake Rs 500 note to one of the singers of a Sankirtan (musical troupe) group performing during Holi. The singer became suspicious about the note and informed the committee members and subsequently informed the police.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/2-held-with-fake-currency-notes/articleshow/108863868.cms

Police in Northern Ireland shut down a major counterfeiting operation this week, seizing a haul of fake devices worth an estimated $750,000. The raids, conducted on Thursday, March 28th, targeted locations in Belfast and Portadown, netting over 20,000 counterfeit items.

While the exact breakdown of seized goods wasn’t revealed, photos from the scene suggest a significant portion were knock-off Apple products. Fake iPhones, AirPods, and iPhone cases were all present, alongside other unspecified counterfeit smartwatches, cellphones, and chargers.

This raid highlights the global reach of counterfeiting operations. While Apple products are often targeted, Detective Sergeant Mason of the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) emphasized that “criminals will attempt to copy anything.” He further warned that such fake goods often fund organized crime.

https://www.gizmochina.com/2024/03/29/fake-iphones-devices-seized-ireland-police/

Vadodara: With police getting extra vigilant on the roads, the bootleggers are coming up with new tricks to ferry liquor stock. The prevention of crime branch (PCB) has arrested two bootleggers who were trying to sneak in liquor bottles by hiding them under the engine of their jeep.

The accused had hidden over 200 bottles in different spots in the jeep.

The police said that they first checked the front portion of the jeep and found bottles wrapped in socks hidden in and around the engine. When they further checked the vehicle, the cops found bottles hidden in the small crevices behind the tail lights and some other parts of the jeep.

The police said that they had received information that the accused identified as Mohansinh Shekhawat and Chirag Raval were ferrying liquor. They kept a watch in Chhani area and nabbed the duo. Shekhawat has 12 offences, including under the Prohibition Act registered against him in the city and Dahod.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/liquor-hidden-under-jeep-engine-seized/articleshow/108864010.cms

Visakhapatnam: Vizag city police seized two firearms and 743 e-cigarettes and arrested three persons in separate incidents. In the first incident, 41-year-old Vemulakonda Siva Nagaraju was arrested by three-town police. Nagaraju was found in possession of a country-made pistol, a revolver (Mark-VI made in England), two live bullets, and an empty case.

Joint commissioner of police, Fakkeerappa Kaginelli, said Nagaraju, residing in Sivajipalem and working as manager at a travels office at Rama Talkies in city, was arrested based on credible information about illegal firearms possession. During questioning, Nagaraju said one Kunal Srivastava from Jharkhand had booked a bus ticket from Vizag to Bengaluru on March 15.

Kunal moved around in a suspicious manner at the travels office and later fled the premises leaving behind a bag. Siva Nagaraju collected the bag which contained weapons. However, he did not inform the police and kept the illegal firearms with him. We have been on the job to nab Kunal Srivastava to ascertain the source and destination of the weapons, police added.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/cops-seize-firearms-e-cigarettes-in-vizag/articleshow/108757692.cms

A 35-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh, Bhupendra Singh Dhakat, learned printing skills while in jail and later used them to produce fake currency notes, authorities revealed. Dhakat was apprehended by the police after they found 95 counterfeit notes of Rs 200 each at his residence in Sironj.

Along with the fake notes, a color printer, ink bottles, and paper used for making the counterfeit currency were also seized. Dhakat admitted to circulating the fake money in the district for several months. He has a history of 11 criminal cases, including murder, and has been in and out of jail. During his last incarceration, he acquired printing skills through a vocational program aimed at helping inmates reintegrate into society post-release.

Instead of using his skills for good, Dhakat resorted to illegal activities. Despite being banned from multiple districts, he managed to continue his illicit operations. According to the jail superintendent, prisoners receive printing training to support themselves after release. The case highlights the challenges of rehabilitation post-prison and the misuse of acquired skills for criminal activities.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/madhya-pradesh-man-learns-printing-skills-in-jail-produces-rs-200-fake-notes-after-getting-released/articleshow/108764549.cms?from=mdr