Seizures of smuggled cigarettes
Illegal cigarettes comprise the largest share of the seized smuggled goods. Over 160 million pieces of them, estimated at EUR 19 million euro, were confiscated. This is three times more than during the same period of the previous year: 60 million pieces of cigarettes worth over EUR 6 million euro were detained at that time, Lithuanian Customs report. The data of the State Tax Inspectorate also confirms the reduction of the illegal tobacco market share in Lithuania: in the first half of 2015, cigarette sales in the legal market increased by 7%. Unlike the last few years, when the largest quantities of tobacco products were detained on the Lithuanian – Belarusian border, the Lithuanian customs officers increasingly often detain this year illegal Belarus tobacco products brought from Latvia. According to the Deputy Director General of the Customs Department Vygantas Paigozinas, such change of smuggling routes took place upon strengthening the control on the European Union external border.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=108948
Lear MoreCounterfeiting: The Rising Threat to Electronics Manufacturers (and Enterprise Labeling as the First Line of Defense)
As a serious challenge to today’s global electronics supply chain, counterfeiting and gray market diversion of electronics components threaten the integrity of products for manufacturers. Counterfeits and obsolete electronics components contribute to dangerous business exposure for manufacturer’s customers, and compromise health and safety for consumers. Clearly, new solutions are needed to improve electronics supply chain integrity and stability. Although unit item serialization is one of the most powerful anti-counterfeiting and anti-diversion measures available today, many manufacturers lack standardized, automated, enterprise-wide labeling solutions as a foundation upon which serialization can be implemented efficiently and cost effectively. This is because many large electronics organizations, their suppliers, and their distributors still rely on a mish mash of 3rd party and homegrown barcode labeling systems. Serialization technology cannot be applied consistently or affordably throughout a non-standardized labeling environment. However, Enterprise Labeling Solutions can provide the first line of defense in today’s complex high technology electronics distribution environment.
Lear MoreAuthorities fear illicit tobacco trade is moving from Gloucester shops to ‘tab houses’ on estates
Fears have been raised that the war on illicit tobacco could soon take a sinister new twist after £20,000-worth of the stuff was found in a home in the Forest of Dean. The surprise discovery in Coleford means the trade could be moving from corner shops to “tab houses” in residential areas. Until now, most of the illegal tobacco in the region has been sold under the counter at city centre shops. But in some areas of the north cigarettes sold from private homes at pocket money prices have been blamed for creating a new generation of young smokers.
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Counterfeit of Luxury goods
THE grand golden doors of 500 Pearl Street, in Manhattan, have welcomed such glamorous names as Hermès, Tiffany & Co and Kering, a French conglomerate whose treasures include Gucci and Bottega Veneta. The building is not a posh hotel or department store. It is the federal court for the Southern District of New York, a favoured battleground for the decidedly unglamorous war against counterfeit goods. The court is now the venue for Kering’s suit against Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce giant. Kering alleges that Alibaba helps fakers sell goods on its websites. The French firm is not the only one to be incensed. On July 17th the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) demanded that Alibaba crack down on counterfeits. Alibaba insists it has extensive measures in place to do just that. It is trying to distance itself from counterfeiters, who are also accused by Kering. On August 6th Alibaba plans to argue to the court that it risks being unfairly implicated as a co-conspirator. A bitter trial looks likely.
Lear MoreNGOs acting at behest of foreign firms: ITC chief
As its core tobacco business faces pressure, ITC chief Y C Deveshwar on Friday accused some ‘NGOs’ of acting as agents of foreign firms and helping them smuggle international cigarette brands ‘duty-free’ while steep taxes are hurting the domestic industry. Addressing diversified group’s annual general meeting here today, ITC’s Chairman Y C Deveshwar said if cigarettes were harmful, then why the product was being sold in airport duty-free shops. “Unprecedented pressure on the legal cigarette industry with imposition of steep taxes has led to consumption being diverted to tax-evaded as well as smuggled products,” he said. Kolkata-headquartered company’s revenue from cigarettes dropped by 1.22 per cent to Rs 4,149.61 crore in the first quarter ended June 30, as against Rs 4,201.06 crore year-ago.
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PIL on fake water bottles, medicines
The petition by Satish Chandra, filed through advocate Abhiuday Chandra, has contended that the “Central Pollution Control Board has found that the tap water in Delhi contains carcinogenic substances and the toxic quotient is five times higher than the WHO standards.” Concerned over risk to public health due to “pervasive menace” of fake water bottles and medicines, the Delhi High Court on Friday sought the Centre’s response on a PIL seeking implementation of anti-counterfeit measures like hologram seals and ISI marks.A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to the ministries of Health and Consumer Affairs seeking their replies within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on September 16.
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Contraband Cigarettes, Chewing Tobacco Seized
More than S$100,000 worth of contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco were seized by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers within a span of eight hours on Wednesday (July 29) and Thursday, said the ICA today. The seized items, from three cases of attempted smuggling at Woodlands Checkpoint and Tuas Checkpoint, totalled 423 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 20,542 sachets of chewing tobacco. The total duty as well as Goods and Services Tax evaded exceeded S$88,000 and S$7,000 respectively, said the ICA. The first attempt occurred on July 29, at about 11.15pm, at Woodlands Checkpoint. Five boxes containing containing contraband cigarettes and two pails of chewing tobacco — totalling 125 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 2,400 sachets of chewing tobacco — were found hidden in the luggage compartment of an empty Malaysia-registered bus.
Lear MoreTobacco smugglers jailed
A Lancashire father and son, who attempted to steal £229,000 in tax by smuggling illegal cigarettes and tobacco into the UK, were jailed this week at Manchester Crown Court.
http://www.forecourttrader.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/10097/Tobacco_smugglers_jailed.html
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Lack of compliance to UNBS laws
LACK of complying with existing laws under the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and stipulated standards has led to the increased usage of counterfeit materials, Martin Imalingat the manager quality assurance has revealed. Imalingat explained that as UNBS, they have laws and set standards intended to fight the importation or manufacturing of counterfeit goods on the market but most consumers and suppliers are not aware about them. “We have the laws and standards in place but most consumers are suppliers are not aware about them, this has highly contributed to the selling and use of counterfeit goods and materials,” he said. He added that even some government officials were not aware of the existing laws and standards yet they are the ones who are supposed to implement them. He added that it was unfair to make the standard laws when they can’t be put to use them to certify products.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/671615-lack-of-compliance-to-unbs-laws-fueling-counterfeits.html
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Trader guilty of trying to sell fake cigarettes
Abdullah Al-Taaei, 48, of Kennington, was due to stand trial on July 6 at the Inner London Crown Court, but pleaded guilty before the trial got underway. The offences took place in March 2014 and concerned more than 82,000 cigarettes as well as hand rolling tobacco, sold at East Street Market, in Southwark. The court heard that following an anonymous tip-off, Al-Taaei had been subject to surveillance by Southwark Council’s trading standard team over a three month period in early 2014. Officers saw Mr Al-Taaei leaving a flat in SE1 for East Street market with a rucksack and shopping bag trolley. CCTV footage from the market showed that these contained cigarettes and tobacco, which he appeared to sell.
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