News

Fifth person charged in plot to smuggle narwhal whale tusks into US, says Department of Justice

BANGOR, Maine — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that a fifth person had been charged in connection with a conspiracy to smuggle narwhal whale tusks into the U.S. from Canada. Eddie Thomas Dunn, 59, of Eads, Tenn., waived indictment and pleaded guilty in December 2011 to charges in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, Alaska, but the case was sealed until last month. Dunn, who is to be sentenced in March, has been free on bail for more than two years. Dunn pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to illegally sell wildlife and illegally selling wildlife. By pleading guilty, Dunn admitted that he and an unnamed co-conspirator paid Logan $126,000 for 135 tusks and resold them for $1.11 million in Alaska, Washington state, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee.

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/02/15/news/bangor/fifth-person-charged-in-plot-to-smuggle-narwhal-whale-tusks-into-us-says-department-of-justice/

‘Operation Team Player’ nets more than $37 million in fake merchandise More than 70 people arrested; over 5,000 websites seized in coordination with NFL

WASHINGTON — Federal officials announced Thursday the final record-breaking results of Operation Team Player, the nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at combatting counterfeit sports merchandise. Special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teamed with officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to target, seize and investigate criminal businesses smuggling international shipments of counterfeit merchandise as it entered the United States. Agents also targeted warehouses, stores, flea markets, online stores and street vendors. The operation, which began in June, netted 397,140 items including fake jerseys, ball caps, T-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs. The items had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of more than $37.8 million – more than the previous six Super Bowl enforcement efforts combined.  HSI and CBP also teamed with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and state and local police departments around the country – all in partnership with the NFL and other major sports leagues. The operation was coordinated by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C.

Sustaining Customs anti-smuggling agenda

Not much had been heard lately on the activities at the Tincan Island Port of the Nigeria Customs Service since Comptroller Tunji Aremu took over as the area controller of the busy port after serving as controller of Ports and Terminal Multi Services Limited, Apapa.  The command with all its challenges however appeared to have performed creditably last year going by the testimonies of Aremu at a recent encounter with journalists. Aremu for instance, revealed that during the period under review, the command in its efforts to combat smuggling, impounded not fewer than 18 goods as a result of false declaration, under declaration. Some, he disclosed were prohibited items.

Brand-conscious, but faking it

KOLKATA: Sambit Chatterjee was wondering what to gift his girlfriend this Valentine’s Day. The second-year college student wanted to impress her with a gift that looked classy but suited his pocket. Sambit’s quest ended on Esplanade pavements when he found a Tommy Hilfiger watch for Rs 1,500! Of course Sambit knew it was fake. But the vendor at the Grand Arcade insisted all watches were ‘original’ and the price was low because they were smuggled into Kidderpore dock. “The only difference is you will not get a warranty certificate,” the vendor explained. The vendor quoted Rs 2,500 but settled for Rs 1,500 after a bout of bargaining.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Brand-conscious-but-faking-it/articleshow/30242431.cms

Federal budget: Tax hikes on cigarettes leave smokers digging deeper

OTTAWA — The federal government is substantially hiking taxes on cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars — a move that is sure to leave Canadian smokers doing a slow burn and raises the spectre of increased contraband sales. Even so-called “duty free” tobacco won’t be spared the tax hike announced in Tuesday’s budget: They’ll now face the same federal excise taxes as domestic smokes and manufactured tobacco. The government expects to take in an extra $3.3 billion in revenue from the tobacco tax hikes between now and the 2018-19 fiscal year (including $685 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year starting April 1). The move is sure to spark some ill will towards a government that has promised it would not increase taxes on Canadians, as Ottawa looks to balance the books in 2015, partly on the backs of smokers. Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty and Prime Ministers Stephen Harper enter the House of Commons on budget day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.