Legislature could ignite rush to smuggle cigarettes
“Tax ’em if you got ’em.” That could be the motto of the California Legislature – about everything, but especially cigarettes.In recent decades, politicians have been eager to increase levies on the demonized weed. The California Legislature’s Extraordinary Session on Health Care, called by Gov. Jerry Brown, has revived bills stalled earlier this year. The six major bills:SBX2-5/ABX2-6 absurdly would regulate tobacco-free inhalers (“vapes” or e-cigarettes) as if they were tobacco.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tax-678193-cigarettes-tobacco.html
Lear More‘Cheese smugglers’ arrested in Moscow with 470 tonnes of illegal produce worth £19m
Moscow banned many imports from the US, Europe, Australia and other countries in retaliation against economic sanctions imposed following Russia’s confrontation with Ukraine.But it seems homegrown Russian-made cheese could not quite cut it.Around 470 tonnes of forbidden Western cheese was found in an office building in Moscow, worth some two billion roubles (£19 million).
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-19/cheese-smuggling-gang-suspects-arrested-in-moscow/
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Marine police cripple cigarette smuggling syndicate
The southern region marine police crippled two cigarette smuggling attempts with the seizure of contraband cigarettes worth RM495,869 and the arrest of two men.Marine Police Force Commander Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof said the two locals, aged 34 and 35 years old respectively were arrested in TanjungLangsat at about 10pm on Aug 18.
Speaking to the media at the Region 2 marine police tactical base here, Abdul Aziz said a police team mounted an operation on Tuesday night, and managed to stop an engine boat carrying 27,800 packets of contraband cigarettes of various brands from entering Pontian waters at about 1.30am on Aug 19.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1525243
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Legislature could ignite rush to smuggle cigarettes
“Tax ’em if you got ’em.” That could be the motto of the California Legislature – about everything, but especially cigarettes.In recent decades, politicians have been eager to increase levies on the demonized weed. The California Legislature’s Extraordinary Session on Health Care, called by Gov. Jerry Brown, has revived bills stalled earlier this year. The six major bills:SBX2-5/ABX2-6 absurdly would regulate tobacco-free inhalers (“vapes” or e-cigarettes) as if they were tobacco.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tax-678193-cigarettes-tobacco.html
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Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Authority tells the difference between illicit trade and counterfeits
Between November last year and June this year, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has handled cases of sub-standard goods worth Sh1 billion, out of which goods worth Sh250 million have been destroyed. The agency’s acting executive director, Dr John Akoten, spoke to Business Beat about the fight against the illicit trade that is threatening genuine businesses.
Lear MoreCouple accused of roles in counterfeit watch smuggling ring
Prosecutors say a Middlesex County couple was involved in international trafficking ring that smuggled counterfeit high-end wrist watches between Hong Kong and New Jersey.
KamWa Chan and his wife Yuet Kai Wong, are each charged with counterfeiting, money laundering and conspiracy. The couple was arrested Wednesday at their Sayreville home, but it was not made public until Monday.
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ICA foils three smuggling attempts in a day; seizes $177,000 in cigarettes and chewing tobacco
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers thwarted three different attempts of illegal smuggling of contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Monday.
The first incident occurred at 8.25am when a 43-year-old Malaysian motorcyclist was directed for checks. ICA officers found 1,080 sachets of chewing tobacco hidden in two plastic bags in the luggage box of his motorcycle. The man had another two packets of contraband cigarettes in his pocket.
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Taxing question of curbs on tobacco smuggling
GCC health ministers last month endorsed the call for a 100 per cent increase in customs duties on tobacco products.
There are two important issues related to imposing higher taxes on tobacco. The first is the need to avoid sudden, large tax rises that would lead to an increase in illicit trade. The other is that we must not let that illegal trade provide finance to organised crime groups and terrorist organisations.
http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/taxing-question-of-curbs-on-tobacco-smuggling
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What you need to know about deadly counterfeits
Consumer Reports identifies knockoff products that pose serious threats to your health and safety. The sale of counterfeit products is far from a victimless crime, as we explained in “The True Cost of Fake Goods.” Counterfeiting benefits illicit activities such as drug and human trafficking, child labor, and even terrorism, according to officials who follow the money. While many fakes are simply cheap knockoffs of designer duds, others have potentially devastating health and safety consequences. Here are some that are particularly dangerous.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/08/deadly-counterfeits/index.htm
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Public must expose counterfeiting to ensure safety – FDA
The Management of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) have appealed to the public to volunteer information on people who deal in counterfeit products to help eliminate the menace from the system.The management made the appeal at a day’s forum with stakeholders and the media in Takoradi to solicit public views and work together to arrest the counterfeiting of drugs and food items.
Mr Peter Agyeman-Duah, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCE) in charge of Monitoring/Evaluation, said the FDA is battling with the elimination of the unpatriotic practice that has assumed a global dimension and is posing a threat to public health and safety.
https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2015/08/18/public-must-expose-counterfeiting-to-ensure-safety-fda/
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