Customs target seafaring fakes
More than 1.2 million counterfeit goods and 130 million cigarettes were seized during an international joint customs operation, according to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Under the coordination of OLAF, Operation Replica saw customs authorities target the import of fake goods via sea. According to OLAF, the seizures of cigarettes alone prevented the loss of €25 million in custom duties and taxes.
Counterfeit electric devices, fashion accessories, toys and car parts were also seized. The value of the intercepted amount of cigarettes was estimated by OLAF to be more than €65 million. Algirdas Šemeta, commissioner responsible for customs and anti-fraud, said: “Operation Replica shows what can be achieved when customs authorities, international partners and industry work together to fight fakes.”
http://www.ipprotheinternet.com/ipprotheinternetnews/article.php?article_id=4035#.VDuyqGeSyH0
Lear MoreSouth Africa ‘s military seized about 2.8 billion yuan of smuggled goods
People Johannesburg October 8 , according to the South African Defense Department spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Pete Paxton (Piet Paxton) revealed that in September this year , in Limpopo and Mpumalanga seized the black market value of about 5.2 billion rand ( about 2.8 billion yuan ) of smuggled goods , including cigarettes, clothing , fake brand sports shoes.
Lear MoreGRA worried over increased smuggling through western corridor
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has identified the South -Western and North-Western borders of the country as areas where smuggling of goods across water bodies are common.
This sad development has come as a blow to the GRA’s core mandate of protecting revenue by preventing smuggling. The GRA personnel physically patrol the borders and other strategic points; examine goods as well as related documents, but lack of required equipment to execute this mandate has resulted in the increased smuggling in the aforementioned areas. This development has resulted in the nation losing millions of Ghana cedis through the illegal trade.
Lear MoreCity struggles to combat smuggling
So far this year the city investigated 43,217 suspected cases and uncovered 39,542 crimes — 3,241 related to selling prohibited and smuggled goods, 366 to fake, low-quality, and pirated goods, 10,607 to cheating, and 25,328 to other offences. Police commenced criminal proceedings in 105 cases and plan to do so in 85 others. Over VND3 trillion (US$150 million) was seized from the offenders. “Smuggling is very complicated. Smugglers resort to both official and unofficial imports, especially from China, Cambodia, and Laos,” Phan Hoan Kiem, head of the city Market Watch Department, told Thoi Bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) newspaper.
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/261097/city-struggles-to-combat-smuggling.html
Lear MoreHazards of high taxes on tobacco
he wise minister of a Mauryan king had advised that since all undertakings depend on finance, the king should pay foremost attention to the treasury. The efficacy of this advice has not changed. Even today, governments make sincere efforts to collect the required tax revenue from people. Often, the need and anxiety to collect more revenue makes it difficult to maintain the right balance among different considerations which, at times, are mutually conflicting. Taxation of tobacco products is an example where this delicate balance gets disturbed. It is an accepted fact that tobacco products are injurious to health. But the economic factors are among the least important reasons for reduction of addiction to this harmful product.
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Newport raid nets haul of ‘illegal’ drink and cigarettes
RAID seizing thousands of cigarettes and hundreds of litres of alcohol took place in Newport this week. The operation, involving police, customs, immigration and trading standards, aimed to disrupt the sale and supply of what is suspected to be illegal tobacco and alcohol led to products being taken from 14 retail premises in Newport City Centre on Monday. The raid uncovered 35,000 cigarettes, six kilos of hand-rolling tobacco and 400 litres of alcohol along with £12,700 duty and VAT-evaded cash.
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11520209.Raid_nets_haul_of____illegal____drink_and_cigarettes/
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Jersey customs officers seize nearly £20,000 worth of duty
Customs officers in Jersey have seized 40,000 cigarettes, 14 kilos of tobacco and 33 litres of spirits from passengers arriving in the island with too much duty free. It’s the result of a three-month crackdown, during which time they say they found no evidence of any organised smuggling operations. Over that period 304 passengers were over the duty free allowance and nearly £20,000 worth of duty was confiscated.
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HCM City struggles to combat smuggling
So far this year the city investigated 43,217 suspected cases and uncovered 39,542 crimes — 3,241 related to selling prohibited and smuggled goods, 366 to fake, low-quality, and pirated goods, 10,607 to cheating, and 25,328 to other offences. Police commenced criminal proceedings in 105 cases and plan to do so in 85 others. Over VND3 trillion (US$150 million) was seized from the offenders. “Smuggling is very complicated. Smugglers resort to both official and unofficial imports, especially from China, Cambodia, and Laos,” Phan Hoan Kiem, head of the city Market Watch Department, told Thoi Bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) newspaper. His department has asked the Government for funds to buy modern equipment and pay rewards to people helping bust smuggling activities.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/113659/hcm-city-struggles-to-combat-smuggling.html
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Anti-counterfeit technology: news in brief
AuthiCode at BLEAuthicode is launching new licensing-specific modules for its cloud-based product verification system at the Brand Licensing Europe conference in London, UK, this week which allow “brand licensors … to monitor their licensing network, track their products and enhance customer relations.” Using the system, the licensor is able to trace a product’s entire production-to-sales process and ensure that contract agreements remain intact, claims the company.
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Global crime gangs behind surge in counterfeiting, customs says; fake pharmaceuticals laced with rat poison
Well-organised criminal gangs looking for lucrative new markets are behind a surge in “dangerous” counterfeit goods arriving in Australia, Customs says. And the agency has warned it is not just sunglasses, luxury handbags and DVDs being counterfeited. In a worrying trend, gangs are branching out into pharmaceuticals and auto and aviation spare parts and the number of fakes will only increase. Customs NSW regional commander Tim Fitzgerald says that poses major risks for consumer safety. “It’s particularly dangerous at the moment with the personal goods,” he told 7.30.
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