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How to avoid falling for counterfeit goods

The problem of counterfeiting is a huge one: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that counterfeiting generates a whopping $250 billion a year in criminal proceeds.There are many victims of this crime, including customers who receive subpar or non-working goods and services, and of course businesses.

“If you could make it, they can fake it,” says Robert Barchiesi, president of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition.

http://world.einnews.com/article/240608574/7PQIRsdKSSc-tod1

Customs foils largest recent case of unmanufactured tobacco smuggling by transhipment

Hong Kong (HKSAR) – Hong Kong Customs smashed a suspected smuggling case involving the transhipment of unmanufactured tobacco from Hong Kong International Terminals on December 10, resulting in the seizure of about 12 000 kilograms of unmanufactured tobacco. This was the largest smuggling case involving the transhipment of unmanufactured tobacco in the past decade.

Through intelligence and in-depth investigation, Hong Kong Customs identified and examined a 40-foot container, declared to contain signposts, on a river trade vessel from the Mainland destined for Australia. About 12 000 kilograms of unmanufactured tobacco were found in the container.

http://7thspace.com/headlines/501426/customs_foils_largest_recent_case_of_unmanufactured_tobacco_smuggling_by_transhipment.html

Portuguese police dismantle tobacco smuggling ring

LISBON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) — Portugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) police force has dismantled a tobacco smuggling ring and seized around 775,000 packets, or more than 15 million cigarettes, according to a statement on the GNR website.  The GNR also seized 362,000 euros (444,753 U.S. dollars) in cash and two firearms in the operation, the statement said.

“The operation dismantled an organized crime group dedicated to importing smuggled tobacco, through national sea ports, with the aim of fraudulently introducing it into the consumer market, avoiding the payment of any kind of tax,” the GNR said.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=259567

Portuguese police dismantle tobacco smuggling ring

Portugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) police force has dismantled a tobacco smuggling ring and seized around 775,000 packets, or more than 15 million cigarettes, according to a statement on the GNR website. The GNR also seized 362,000 euros (444,753 U.S. dollars) in cash and two firearms in the operation, the statement said.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/141218/portuguese-police-dismantle-tobacco-smuggling-ring

Lack of awareness helps counterfeits

Lack of awareness helps counterfeits

Lack of consumer awareness is one of the main issues in tackling the counterfeiting problem, say industry players. Even brand owners who deploy solutions to prevent counterfeiting do not spread the awareness, which results in consumers not being able to differentiate between counterfeits and genuine products.

According to the FICCI cascade study released in 2013, the grey market for seven sectors namely alcohol and beverages; auto components; computer hardware; FMCG (packaged food and personal goods); mobile phones, and tobacco products, led to an estimated sale loss of Rs 72,969 crores to the industries and a revenue loss of Rs 26,190 crore to the exchequer.

Cigarette smuggling is just as big as cocaine trafficking

Cigarette smuggling alone costs the EU and its Member States €11 billion per year. A turn over which has reached that of heroin and cocaine. This is a business that in Europe involves between 100 thousand and 150 thousand people and causes serious damages to the economy, because of the the evasion of customs duties. An illegal traffic which is now in the hands of real criminal organizations with significant financial resources, as it is clear from an analysis by the Observatory on crime in agriculture promoted by Coldiretti about the action “Duty free” conducted by the Guardia di Finanza of Ancona. It is a serious damage for Italy too. Just think that, since the economic crisis, in the tobacco sector, it has caused a reduction of about 30 thousand workers and 500 thousand tons of product.

http://www.west-info.eu/cigarette-smuggling-is-just-as-big-as-cocaine-trafficking/

Customs seize seven tonnes of tobacco at port of Purfleet

AN attempt to smuggle almost seven tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco into the UK through the Port of Purfleet has been prevented by Border Force officers. The 6.93 tonnes, one of the largest ever seizures made at the port, had been shipped to the UK from Belgium inside a trailer whose contents had been listed as simply “pallets”. Had the smuggling attempt proved successful it would have cost the Treasury approximately £1.77m in unpaid duty.

Md. cigarette taxes have unintended consequences

In recent years, Maryland has substantially raised tobacco taxes. Its current rates of $2 for a pack of cigarettes and 15 percent to 70 percent for other tobacco products like cigars are among the highest in the country. The state enjoys a huge revenue gain from the taxes, but there are ironies and unintended consequences associated with the taxes on tobacco products that may not have been adequately considered. The state itself sends out mixed messages regarding tobacco and cigarettes. On the one hand, it acknowledges the health concerns associated with tobacco products and agrees with health advocates who say taxing cigarettes higher is the right thing to do. So-called sin taxes increase costs with the idea of encouraging smokers to quit and discouraging teenagers from starting the habit

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-cigarette-tax-20141216-story.html