News

23-yr-old auto-lifter held for smuggling banned medicines

His record and police dossier identify him as a notorious auto-lifter, but very few, including those in police, knew he was a smuggler of banned drugs and medicines. The Vasant Vihar police have arrested a 23-year-old auto-lifter and his accomplice with 55,000 capsules of banned medicine “Relipen” which is used as a painkiller and hallucinogenic. The seized drugs were meant to be smuggled to Manipur by courier after concealing them in cloth parcels. The arrested drug peddlers have been identified as Imtiyaz Khan Sheikh, a native of Thoubal in Manipur and his aide, Hitler, 26, from Imphal, Manipur. Police said Sheikh was involved in several cases of auto-lifting registered at different police stations in south Delhi. PS Kushwah, additional deputy commissioner of police (south), said the two drug peddlers were arrested following a tip-off about Sheikh’s movement in Munrika village near Vasant Vihar. “A team led by Anil Sharma, SHO of the Vasant Vihar police station, laid a trap near Munirka bus stop after they learnt that a person involved in smuggling of banned medicines from Delhi to Manipur will arrive there. At the instance of the informer, the team apprehended a person who was holding two cartons in his hands. When opened, 100 boxes (each box containing 100 tablets), containing 10,000 tablets of ‘Relipen’ (a Schedule ‘H’ Drug), were found in the cartons,” said Kushwah. During interrogation, a senior police officer said, the arrested person identified himself as Sheikh. When his antecedents were verified, it was found that he is a notorious auto-lifter. “Since the recovery of items was related to drugs and medicines, the drugs control department of Delhi government was alerted. Sheikh was interrogated at length and at his instance, his accomplice Hitler was arrested and 45,000 tablets of ‘Relipen’ were recovered from a house in Munirka village,” said the officer. “The duo revealed that they used to purchase Relipen tablets from different chemist shops in Delhi and NCR for smuggling them to Manipur. Relipen is a sought after drug by addicts,” the officer added.

Police seize counterfeit purses, wallets, sunglasses from Mishawaka shop

Detectives seized hundreds of counterfeit purses, wallets, and sunglasses, during a raid on a gift shop. St. Joseph County Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security filled an entire U-Haul truck with merchandise they confiscated from the Downtown Gift Shop, along McKinley Ave. just east of Hickory Rd., using a warrant. “We’re talking Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, those sorts of things,” said St. Joseph County Police Capt. Randy Kaps. No one was arrested, Tuesday, in what police called an ongoing investigation. Authorities in Chicago previously received a tip that the shop was selling knock-off items and that’s what prompted the investigation into possible trademark violation, Kaps said. According to Kaps, police are trying to determine who owns the store, and whether he or she was aware that the products, which appear to be from overseas, were counterfeit. Adora Deleu, who has shopped at the store, and who arrived to find the business closed, Tuesday afternoon, said it was obvious the products were not the real thing.

Ministry punishes firms over use of counterfeit software

About 40 private establishments and retail outlets have been sanctioned for using or selling counterfeit software, said an official source at the Ministry of Culture and Information. Fines reached SR 100,000 in some cases and some companies were closed temporarily until they rectify their situation. “The total number of cases adds up to about 150 so far,” sources told a local newspaper. The lawyers of software companies filed the cases, saying the companies breached the copyright regulation that was implemented to protect intellectual property and computer programs. Working on curbing the trafficking of counterfeit software, the ministry designated specialized officials to carry out field inspections at business establishments, warehouses and games retail outlets. These inspectors have the jurisdiction to seize evidence. According to a Business Software Alliance (BSA) study, the rate of software pirating in the Middle East and Africa reached 50 percent in 2011. The commercial value of unlicensed programs amounted to about $ 4.2 million (SR 15.75 million). The rate of pirating software in emerging markets reached about 68 percent. Emerging markets have the largest portion of the global increase in the commercial value of counterfeit program, the report showed. Another source said there is a consensus among private and government parties on pursuing those who illegally copy software, films and other copyright protected materials, as this causes large losses for the economy. Specialists at the software industry say punishments against those involved in copying and selling counterfeit programs must be severe and include imprisonment and naming and shaming. Trading in copied copyrighted intellectual property is a crime for which perpetrators are pursued in almost all countries to curb the phenomenon’s spread in global markets. A representative of BSA and lawyer of the plaintiff companies Muhammad Al-Dhabaan said the copying of original software products is increasing through a number of websites. The relevant authorities and BSA officials who monitor the local market detected these sites. Al-Dhabaan said about 100 violations had been detected. When the BSA team finds a company using counterfeit software, they are requested to use original software. If a company would not comply, they would be reported to authorities.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/ministry-punishes-firms-over-use-counterfeit-software

Dangerous fake drink on sale in the county

DRINKERS are being warned that “extremely dangerous” bogus booze could be on sale across the county. It comes as an off-licence owner was fined a record amount in Oxfordshire for selling counterfeit alcohol. Oxfordshire County Council’sTrading StandardsTeam has seized 227 bottles of fake wine and eight bottles of vodka since June last year. And last night it warned they could be contaminated with chemicals. About £2,000 worth of counterfeit alcohol was seized from Ansh Food and Wine in Chinnor in April. The haul included 147 bottles of fake Blossom Hill wine, 28 bottles of counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine, and one bottle of fake vodka.Store owner Paramjit Singh Khiali was fined £9,250 and £1,941 costs at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week after he admitted eight charges under the food safety and trade mark laws. He admitted buying alcohol on three occasions without doing proper checks. The 47-year-old was caught after a customer alerted Trading Standards after buying some fake wine. Mr Khiali told the Oxford Mail that he did not know the alcohol was counterfeit and he was sorry for his mistake. Shop assistant Kultar Singh said the fine would hurt the business. He said: “It was a mistake. We did not realise. I know if I sell bad stuff we will lose customers.” Trading Standards can now call for the shop’s licence to be reviewed. Its head Richard Webb said fake booze was becoming more widespread. “It’s a problem across the whole country, but we are starting to see more cases of counterfeit alcohol being distributed across Oxfordshire.” Of Mr Khaili’s fine, he added: “We are pleased with the result, and it shows that the court takes matters of counterfeit alcohol very seriously. “The high fine reflects the importance of being able to trace the supply chain for products so that any unsafe goods can be quickly removed from the market.“Businesses should only buy their stock from legitimate source; otherwise there are potential serious consequences for any retailer.”Trading Standards is now analysing the seized bottles to determine if they contained any dangerous chemicals.Judith Heathcoat, council cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “Counterfeit alcohol can be extremely dangerous as it is usually mixed with chemicals that aren’t fit for consumption.”Three bottles of illegal vodka were seized from the 7 to 9 store in Oxford Road, Cowley, in October last year and the shop was given a warning.Trading Standards said it was not known where the alcohol was coming from, but said some cold callers turn up at off-licences claiming their businesses have closed and they are selling stock.Abingdon GP Dr Prit Buttar said counterfeit booze could be contaminated with a range of dangerous chemicals.He said: “Methanol can blind permanently. Some of the other contaminants can cause irreparable damage and if it was somebody with a history of heavy alcohol consumption then that would make the toxic effect greater.”

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10096579.Dangerous_fake_drink_on_sale_in_the_county/?ref=rss

Counterfeiters target online shoppers

The world of cyberspace is rife with risk for online shoppers who are increasingly targeted by counterfeit goods manufacturers, North American delegates to an annual GTA police and trade conference were told Wednesday. And while many consumers know of fake $10 Rolex watches and $40 Gucci handbags, bogus medicines and computer software that can strip personal information and plant viruses have become a serious global problem, speakers said. James Dickmeyer, the U.S. Consul-general in Toronto, said the underworld is increasingly involved.“These are criminal organizations that don’t recognize borders,” he said.Dickmeyer said under an agreement Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama signed early in 2011, American and Canadian personnel on patrol ships are working together to seize counterfeit goods being shipped between the countries. Mutual co-operation “is a growing trend that is necessary,” he said.Matthew Stentz, the Homeland Securities Investigations attaché at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, added “the most alarming trend in recent years is the use of the Internet.”Pharmaceuticals and a wide range of fake products are offered, although stores and flea markets still stock them, he said. Crooks also produce fake, often substandard auto and aircraft parts, electronic goods that catch fire due to faulty wiring, airbags, and pharmaceuticals, Stentz said .A wide range of spurious goods including team jerseys laced with urine, phony Viagra, Angry Bird toys stuffed with human and dog hair and skin-damaging razors were put on display at the conference put on by Toronto lawyer Lorne Lipkus .Representatives from enforcement agencies, including Toronto Police, the FBI and the RCMP attended the event which was held at a Toronto hotel. Some of the bogus goods came from a recent $4-million seizure by Toronto Police and RCMP officers, Lipkus said. Unlike U.S. Customs officials, who have the right to investigate, seize and stop counterfeit goods shipments, he said Canadian Border Service Agency officers lack legislated authority and must “call the RCMP.”RCMP Insp. Todd Gilmore said his 30 local specialist officers, now focusing increasingly on cross-border and mail shipments, seized counterfeit goods worth $78.6 million under Project O-Scorpion since last years. The Mounties charged 19 importers, including several repeat offenders. Gilmore’s display included fake TTC badges and a pea-shooting pellet Glock-style pistol so realistic that one “was used in a bank robbery.”

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/12/05/counterfeiters-target-online-shoppers

Nokia campaigns against fake phones

Mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia would embark on an intensive campaign in the first quarter of 2013 to raise public awareness on the dangers of using fake mobile phones.James Rutherfoord, Vice President of Nokia West Africa, who stated this, noted that the influx of fake phones onto the Ghanaian market is a major source of concern not only for Nokia but other phone manufacturers.“As such in the first quarter of 2013, Nokia would embark on educational campaigns and engage officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and train them on how to identify fake devices.”He added that the company would also implement the care line, which would allow consumers to determine the serial numbers of their genuine phones.Mr. Rutherfoord stated this in an interview withCITY & BUSINESS GUIDEduring the first anniversary of the launch of Nokia Asha in Lagos, Nigeria.

Warning to parents as counterfeit toys flood the market

Parents have been warned to be wary of purchasing counterfeit Christmas toys that could be harmful to children.The seasonal message to put safety first was issued last night as Customs officers disclosed they had seized almost 2,000 toys that had not been subjected to any regulations.Officers made a total of 18 seizures, comprising 1,903 items with a retail value of about €37,410 over the past year.The major risks from playing with unsafe toys involve choking and reactions to chemicals, such as lead.Officers said the production of counterfeit goods was generally not subject to regulation.One added: “At best, fake or counterfeit goods do not deliver the expected and promised results of genuine products while, at worst, they can carry health and safety risks.”One-third of this haul has been recovered since the start of September as unscrupulous dealers prepare to flood theChristmasmarket.One of the seizures earlier in the year contained 384 sets of counterfeit Barbie Doll clothing, while other items included cars, Thomas the Tank Engines and Winnie the Pooh figures.

Haul

Also recovered were 643 school bags bearing trademarks such asHello Kittyand Batman.In the past few weeks, officers have also seized a haul of 700 fake Angry Bird chairs.The seizures so far this year represent a massive increase on all of 2011 when officers found 430 counterfeit items, with a retail value of €11,000.The National Consumer Agency (NCA) urged shoppers to make sure they observed age-suitability warnings.It told consumers to check for the CE mark when buying toys as this meant they met European safety standards.AnEU-wide survey showed that the top 10 infant or child products resulting in injuries were: a swing or slide; a toy; changing table; tricycle; baby pram or buggy; high chair or booster seat; a cot, crib or baby bed; a baby walker; marbles or beads; and a tree house or playhouse. An EU database indicated that about 180,000 children require emergency medical treatment each year for injuries linked to these products. Consumers who encounter a toy that seems unsafe or does not have a CE mark should contact the retailer who sold it, and make a report to the NCA.

Police release details of counterfeit seizure

Toronto police announced details of one of the largest seizure of counterfeit goods in the city’s history.At a morning press conference, staff inspector Bryce Evans said that 10 people were arrested and charged with a variety of offences related to the possession and sale of counterfeit goods.According to police over $3 million in counterfeit goods were seized. During the press conference police also shared details of an ongoing counterfeit operation dubbed ‘Project Consumer Safety’, meant to educate the public about the dangers of buying counterfeit items.Police say they found bacteria, mildew and chicken parts used in one counterfeit jacket. They also cautioned parents about buying fake plush toys for kids, which often end up in the child’s mouth, due to the uncertainty of what they are made with or where they came from.

http://www.globaltoronto.com/police+to+release+details+of+counterfeit+seizure/6442764803/story.html

Counterfeit goods seized during joint agency raids – Macquarie Park

Police have seized thousands of dollars worth of alleged counterfeit goods during raids in Sydney’s North West. At about 9am (Tuesday 27 November 2012), officers attached to Gladesville Local Area Command and investigators from NSW Department of Fair Trading and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Macquarie Park.Investigators located twelve pallets of footwear bearing brand names such as Nike, ASICS, ADIDAS and Converse, suspected to be counterfeit.The goods are currently being inspected for authenticity by representatives of Nike Australia and ACG Corporate Services (ASICS and adidas).Police also located further pallets of clothing and footwear that will undergo authenticity testing over coming days.Inquiries are continuing and charges are expected.

Feds, industry split over counterfeit parts strategy

Industry groups are crying foul over steps the government is taking to curb the growing problem of counterfeit parts making their way into products and weapons bought by the government. Of particular concern is a provision in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which orders the Defense Department to hold contractors financially responsible for replacing counterfeit products. In addition, the Pentagon’s Defense Logistics Agency announced in August that contractors will have to specially tag electronic microcircuits, which are frequent targets for counterfeiters, with a botanically generated DNA marking to assure their authenticity. In both cases, industry executives say the mandates are unfair and could be costly. The Pentagon has yet to publish rules for how it will hold contractors financially liable for counterfeit components in their products. Trey Hodgkins, senior vice president of global public-sector government affairs at TechAmerica, said his group’s members are concerned they will be exposed to potentially significant financial liability.“Industry is waiting around, [and] it’s beginning to impact performance because companies are anticipating liability,” Hodgkins said. Contractors are starting to put clauses in their contractual agreements and negotiate with suppliers the issue of shared liability if a counterfeit part were to be sold to the government. TechAmerica and numerous industry groups are pressing lawmakers to pass a provision in the House-passed 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that will provide relief for companies who take steps to mitigate counterfeits.“If it fails, it will be a big deal,” Hodgkins said. Commercial companies may decide not to participate in some contract competitions because of liability concerns, he added. That measure would amend the current law to shield contractors from the financial burdens of replacing suspected and known counterfeit parts, including previously used parts, if:

• The contractor is using a method, approved by the Defense Department, to identify and avoid counterfeit electronic parts.

• The counterfeit part was procured from a trusted supplier, as defined by DoD, or the part was provided to the contractor as government property.

• The contractor notifies the government in writing within 60 days of discovering or suspecting that the government or its contractors have bought a counterfeit part.“This would remove any ambiguity that might currently exist,” said Larry Allen, president of consulting firm Allen Federal Business Partners. “It’s a gray area,” when determining who would be financially responsible, Allen said. Under the 2012 NDAA, contractors and subcontractors are also required, whenever possible, to buy products from original manufacturers, their authorized dealers or companies that DoD deems as trusted suppliers. But trusted suppliers have not been clearly defined or identified, Hodgkins said.If contractors have to establish a separate supply chain for their government business to meet these standards, that could increase costs to government, said Erica McCann of TechAmerica. “Considering the times are calling for doing more with less, this seems to be outside the scope of the primary mission to reduce spending,” McCann said.When the government uses a “lowest price, technically acceptable” standard for evaluating contract bids, there is going to be an overwhelming amount of pressure on vendors to use counterfeit equipment to keep costs low, Allen said.“While contractors should not be off the hook, the government can’t expect to pay discount prices for real stuff or real product,” he said.Over the past decade, the number of high-risk suppliers to the federal government, including companies known to have sold suspect counterfeit parts, rose 63 percent from 5,849 companies in 2002 to 9,539 companies in 2011, according to data released last month by the global information firm IHS. This does not necessarily mean the government bought counterfeit products from those vendors.“This is a sophisticated issue that is hard to detect, [and] counterfeiters are getting better at falsifying parts,” said Rory King, director of strategic supply chain solutions for IHS.The matter of liability for counterfeit parts gained steam in Congress last year when reports surfaced that counterfeit memory chips made their way into computers of the country’s primary missile defense system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. The Pentagon shelled out $2.7 million to fix the problem.If those components had failed, the THAAD system would likely have failed, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said at a hearing last November.“And who do you think paid for it?” Levin said at the hearing. “The American taxpayer. … There is no reason on earth that the replacement of a counterfeit part should be paid for by American taxpayers, instead of by the contractor who put it in a military system.“In fact, the Pentagon later charged THAAD’s contractor, Lockheed Martin, for the costs.Industry groups are also troubled by the Defense Logistics Agency’s push to require that all electronic microcircuits be specially tagged as being authentic. To do this, companies will have to contract with Applied DNA Sciences, the Stony Brook, N.Y.-based company that produces the DNA markers, or one of its authorized licensees. The company modifies plant DNA and provides the markers suspended in military grade ink to companies. The ink is then applied to products and can be tested at any point down the road to verify the authenticity of a product. In a Nov. 15 letter to DLA, TechAmerica said the requirement “could be counterproductive and not in the government’s best interests.”Hodgkins said companies don’t know how this DNA will affect the performance of their technology, and the department is authorizing a monopoly because there is only one company in the world that makes this product. TechAmerica urged DLA to postpone the rule and include it as part of the Pentagon’s broader counterfeit regulation to carry out the 2012 defense authorization.