News

Derby is ‘hotspot for illicit tobacco, with 35 stores selling it’

TRADING standards officers have warned about the dangers of counterfeit cigarettes in Derby after a report revealed that the city was a “hotspot” for the problem, with about 35 stores selling them.

It says that “Derby is a hotspot for illicit tobacco, whether smuggled, bootlegged or counterfeit” and that “illegal tobacco is widely available in many areas, especially poorer communities across the city”. The report, drawn up for the city council’s planning, housing and leisure board, warns that counterfeit cigarettes do not comply with European safety standards. This means that “if left unattended, they will continue to burn through to the end – increasing the risk to the smoker of causing a fire”.

Latin American Illegal Alcohol Market Valued at US $2.4 Billion Dollars

Alcoholic Drinks Market Experienced US $736 Million Total Fiscal Loss in 2012

Market Research Company Euromonitor International released today a special report on the illegal alcohol market for six countries in Latin America, revealing volume and value of illegal alcohol by country and the types of illegal alcohol and potential drivers for purchase and consumption in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Peru. According to the research, the illegal market accounted for 25.5% of the total market in terms of volume by litres of alcohol equivalent (LAE) and 14.1% in terms of value (illegal retail sales price or RSP). On average, the retail prices of illegal products were 30.3% lower than their legal counterparts in 2012. In 2012, the market represented a total fiscal loss of US $736 million dollars, with counterfeit and contraband the main categories responsible for the loss. As counterfeit refills have very similar pricing to legal brands, many consumers do not realize that the product they are purchasing is not original. Some formal channels such as wholesalers, retailers and on premise outlets sell illegal alcoholic beverages alongside legal products, further misleading consumers. However, there has been increased consumer awareness thanks to campaign efforts and local news about illegal alcohol.

http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/latin-american-illegal-alcohol-market-valued-at-us-24-billion-dollars-1908994.htm

Fake Gucci, Nike Distributor Jailed

LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley businessman who coordinated the importation of 11 containers of counterfeit apparel – including Nike, Gucci and Coach products worth more than $2.3 million – was sentenced today to 31 months in federal prison. Today’s sentencing is the second in the past two weeks in which a smuggling operation resulted in a federal prison term. Last week, a Glendale man who brought bogus AMG wheels into the country received a one-year prison sentence. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit goods.

Millions of cigarettes confiscated

A total number of 13 Million illegal cigarette sticks have been confiscated from January to March 2014, data released today said. Customs alone have been responsible for confiscating 98% of it. Meanwhile in an effort to create awareness among its employees on the impact of illegal smuggling and trading of cigarettes (illicit trade), Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) recently conducted an ‘Anti-Illicit Trade (AIT) in Tobacco Week’ at its head office in Colombo. The company also launched a dedicated hotline 077 2 440794 for employees to report the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco products in Sri Lanka. It is estimated that globally Governments lose US$ 40 billion in revenue from unpaid taxes due to the illegal cigarette trade. It is noteworthy to mention that this amount is sufficient to provide 75kg of rice to every person in Africa.

New task force set up to combat counterfeit cigarettes

A NEW task force has been set up to tackle the problem of counterfeit and illegally smuggled cigarettes on the streets of Notts. The county council has invested £91,000 of its public health funding into the initiative, which will pay for investigations to cut down on the supply and use of illegal tobacco products. The team has already carried out its first raids in nine shops across Sutton-in-Ashfield, Hucknall, Mansfield, Stapleford and Netherfield, and two houses in Gedling. They uncovered around 90,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 20kg of illegal tobacco with an estimated street value of £40,000.

Confidence Reigns, Counterfeit Consumer Electronics Continue to Fool Consumers

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will unveil today the results of a 2013 Anti-Counterfeit Study it commissioned on U.S. consumers’ attitudes and perceptions of counterfeit consumer electronics in the U.S.(1) The study reveals that while counterfeit consumer electronics are a significant concern to U.S. consumers, most seem to be unaware of the full impact and risks of their purchase and use. The study revealed that consumers trust their instincts, but seem to lack the understanding of the possible safety risks and the true long-term costs of counterfeit consumer electronics.

Department of Revenue reports on cigarette enforcement

Department of Revenue reports on cigarette enforcement activities

Since July 1, 2013, the Minnesota Department of Revenue has completed over 1,000 inspections of retailers to ensure they are selling only state-stamped cigarettes. The department has worked with law enforcement agencies in numerous seizures of unstamped cigarettes. State stamps on cigarettes are proof that the seller paid Minnesota’s cigarette taxes.

The increase in cigarette and tobacco taxes that took effect July 1, 2013, reflects the state’s commitment to emphasize a healthy community and reduce the number of young people using tobacco. The cigarette tax increase will also help cover the long-term public health costs associated with tobacco use.