Sniffer dogs discover large amounts of illegal tobacco in Lancashire raids
SNIFFER dogs helped to discover large amounts of illegal tobacco in raids carried out by Lancashire County Council trading standards.More than 1,200 packs of suspected contraband cigarettes, tobacco and tobacco blunts were seized, with the help of sniffer dogs, from 35 shops in Rossendale, Burnley, Nelson and Colne.
Fake toner products worth Dh11 million seized in RAK
The tools used in the counterfeit process, along with the duplicate products were seized in collaboration with the inspectors of the RAK Department of Economic Development.
The Ras Al Khaimah Police have seized counterfeit products of ink and toner cartridges worth Dh11 million from a villa in RAK city and busted a gang of Asians involved in the crime.
Major-General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of the RAK Police, on Sunday said the Organised Crimes Section of the RAK Police was alerted that some Asian residents were dealing in counterfeit products. “The gang’s villa was put under surveillance. After the tip-off was confirmed, the villa was raided.”
Lear MoreCounterfeit Components Continue to Slam Electronics Industry
The problem of counterfeiting keeps getting worse. In 2013, the US Customs and Border Protection reported more than 24,300 counterfeit shipment seizures, representing more than $1.7 billion in goods. Over the last five years, counterfeit seizures have increased nearly 50%.
Power management company Eaton has launched a program to raise awareness of ways industry professionals can protect themselves against counterfeit electrical products. The “I Didn’t Know” educational campaign includes a website devoted to helping buyers identify and report counterfeit parts. The campaign intends to reach professionals in the electrical and electronics industry and is part of the company’s ongoing effort to combat counterfeit components worldwide.
Lear MoreProposed Tobacco Tax Increase Will Simply Encourage More Smuggling
State legislatures across the country have piled on the tobacco taxes over the past decade. Not surprisingly, this has created a growing problem of tobacco smuggling. As the tax rate rises, it encourages people to buy products from low-tax states and sell them illegally in high-tax states.
New York is the most obvious example of this problem. The Empire State has a tax rate of $4.35/pack, far higher than most other states. As a result, an estimated 57% of all cigarettes sold in New York are brought in by smugglers.
http://oregoncatalyst.com/30079-proposed-tobacco-tax-increase-simply-encourage-smuggling.html
Lear MoreCigarette smuggling report calls for stronger enforcement, harsher penalties
Massachusetts should increase spending on law enforcement and establish harsher penalties to cut down on illegal cigarette sales, according to a new report by Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
A state commission convened in 2013 to study ways to cut down on tobacco smuggling released its final report on Sunday. It did not recommend reducing the state’s cigarette tax, which is the second-highest in the nation, but suggested the state could save money by giving law enforcement agencies more money and threaten smugglers and retailers with harsher penalties.
Top tips that can help you spot fake products
Delegates from French companies, including Louis Vuitton and Lacoste, on how to spot fakes
Lacoste’s signature crocodile should always have its mouth agape to the right and every authentic Louis Vuitton product is packaged in dark brown. These were some of the key revelations to help identify the counterfeit from the original that were highlighted by representatives from a number of French companies, who gathered in Ajman’s Chamber of Commerce in an anti-counterfeiting awareness and training seminar.
Lear MoreCommittee reports on illegal trade
In a report, entitled Cross-border Police Cooperation and Illicit Trade, they say. More serious penalties, including more lengthy custodial sentences for illicit trade activities, are needed in order to make Ireland a more difficult place for criminal gangs to operate.The Committee was particularly alarmed by the evidence of the widespread presence of fuel laundering plants and filling stations selling illicit fuel in border regions and further afield.
http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/committee-reports-on-illegal-trade-31018174.html
Lear MoreCounterfeiting & smuggling to cost govt Rs 1.6 trillion by 2016: Ficci
Counterfeiting and smuggling activities have been increasing at an annual rate of 15% in the country and would cost government Rs 1.6 trillion by 2016, revealed the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (Ficci) anti-counterfeiting committee on Friday.
The revelation was made during a 90-minute programme held by the Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (Cascade) here. The programme was aimed at sensitizing police officers about the impact of counterfeit and smuggled goods.
Smuggling, counterfeiting on the rise: Sanjay Kumar
Smuggling and counterfeiting-related crimes are increasing at a more rapid pace compared to conventional crimes, said Sanjay Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police, Pune.
Kumar was addressing police officers and members of industry during a one-day seminar and training on ‘Counterfeiting and smuggling’ organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on Friday.
Lear MoreDon’t be fooled – Supermarkets selling fake wine in alcohol aisle – some containing just 11% of alcohol
Supermarkets have been caught selling “wine based drinks” in their alcohol aisles – some containing less than the required 75 per cent wine. The Aussie plonk appears to be normal – bottled and labelled like proper wines – but small print on the back reveals they are not what they seem. Labeling guidelines state that any drink containing less than 75 per cent wine must be described as a “wine based drink”.