News

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.

http://vietnamnews.vn/society/261097/city-struggles-to-combat-smuggling.html

Hazards 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.

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.

Counterfeit goods seized in PA

Port Alfred SAPS, in a joint operation with HB Counterfeit Investigations (Pty) Ltd, earlier today confiscated more than 300 units of counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R150 000. The items include tracksuits, shirts, hats, shoes, sunglasses, watches and wallets with brand names such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, DH, Uzzi and Converse All Star.

http://www.theannouncer.co.za/counterfeit-goods-seized-pa/

Manila Raid Yields Over P500-M In Fake Goods

Combined operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Intellectual Property Office, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) raid several warehouses in Binondo, Manila on Friday. Authorities seized over P500-Million worth of assorted fake products. Photo shows (left) Ben Entico,Special Assistant to the BOC District Collector, Port of Manila and Sr. Supt. Bustamante, Chief of the PNP CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit inspecting sachets of fake “Maggi Sarap.” seasoning granules

Smuggled phones help N. Korea defectors send money

In this Sept. 21, 2014 photo, North Korean defector Choi Jung-hoon, center, listens as North Korean democracy activist Park Sang-hak, right, speaks before they release balloons carrying leaflets and banners condemning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his government’s policies during a rally against North Korea in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea. One recent survey by a Seoul civic group of about 400 defectors suggested that one in every two defector families in the South send home money. “Even though we have very small incomes here, we still eat rice at every meal,” Choi said. “If we don’t buy new clothes, we can save some money to send to our family members in the North. That’s a lot of money for them.