Gang who smuggled 117 million illegal cigarettes into UK and sent huge bundles of cash to ‘Big Boss’ exposed by EncroChat hack
A gang who smuggled more than 117 million illegal cigarettes into the UK and cheated the taxman out of £36million were caught out by the EncroChat hack.
The Rochdale-based gang smuggled the illicit cigarettes into the country on a ‘massive scale’, hiding them in lorries.
They also sent millions of pounds worth of cash – from selling the cigarettes – out of the UK in the same way to Poland to a mysterious figure referred to as ‘Big Boss’.
Hazhar Mohammad-Pani, 31, and Hubert Smolarek, 41, were both jailed for more than seven years.
“Although quite short lived, the offending in this case was on a massive scale and it was highly sophisticated,” Judge Nicholas Dean QC told the pair at Manchester Crown Court.
“EncroChat phones, while they are not illegal, have no use other than to criminals who operate at a very high level indeed, as was occurring in the case of Mr Smolarek and Mr Mohammad-Pani.”
Lear MoreIn Mumbai, 3,646 IPhones Worth Rs 42cr Seized At Airport; Smuggled From Hong Kong
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized a stockpile of 3,646 iPhones being smuggled into India from Hong Kong. According to an official release of the DRI, two consignments with stocks of iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, Google Pixel 6 pro, and Apple SmarthWatch arrived at the Air Cargo Complex (ACC) at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai on Friday. In the import documents, the goods were declared as “memory cards”, and the value of the consignment was claimed to be Rs. 80 lakhs.
“After developing precise intelligence, officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) inspected two consignments on 26.11.2021. These consignments had arrived from Hong Kong, at Air Cargo Complex (ACC), Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. In the import documents, the goods were declared as “memory cards”. Physical examination, however, revealed that the consignments actually contained the following items– iPhone 13 Pro — 2245, iPhone 13 Pro Max — 1401, Google Pixel 6 pro — 12, and Apple SmartWatch — 1,” DRI said in the statement.
The agency further stated that by smuggling over 3,646 iPhones, and other gadgets, attempts were being made to evade Customs Duty on the goods which go as high as 44%, as per the Indian law. “The abovementioned mobile phones and apple smartwatch, not having been declared, were seized under the Customs Act, 1962. The total value of the seized goods is around Rs. 42.86 crore, while the declared value of the goods was only Rs. 80 lakhs,” it stated.
Lear More185 spurious mustard oil cans seized in Burrabazar
KOLKATA: The enforcement branch has raided the premises of three edible oil traders in the Posta region after receiving complaints that they were blending rice bran oil with deadly dyes and chemicals and repacking them as mustard oil and selling them at Rs 160 per litre, almost Rs 30-Rs 60 less than the market rate. The government has banned blending of mustard oil since July earlier this year.
The EB have seized huge stocks of adulterated mustard oil from three godowns in Burrabazar. The adulteration was being carried out at special anti-chambers set up inside the godown, suspect investigators. “We have collected the samples and sent them for testing. The accused wanted to cash in on the mustard oil price rise and were making a nice profit by using sub-standard products,” said Bidisha Kalita, DC (EB).
According to police, it was around two days back that officers from the enforcement branch carried out a special drive against blended mustard oil based on inputs from various sources. “Samples from each accused were collected after we came to know that they were selling adulterated oil at anywhere between Rs 160-Rs 165 per litre, which is not possible at present market rates if it was pure. We even found underground chambers at each godown.
Lear More
Assam Rifles recovered foreign origin cigarettes in Champhai district
AIZAWL: In yet another success in its crusade against smuggling activities, Serchhip Battalion of Headquarter 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered four cases of foreign origin cigarettes in general area Chhungte- Aizawl Road, Champhai district on Monday.
The operation was carried out by a joint team of 8 Assam Rifles, 11 Assam Rifles and Customs Department, Champhai based on specific information. The approximate cost of the recovered foreign origin cigarettes is Rs 5,20,000. The Customs Department, Champhai seized the contraband items, stated a press release.
Lear More
UAE: Dubai custom seized huge shipment of fake skincare products
Authorities thwarted 2,669 attempts to smuggle counterfeit products into the country during the first nine months of 2021.
The Dubai Customs has foiled an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of counterfeit skincare products from an Asian country via air freight.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, revealed that the achievement comes within the framework of Dubai Customs’ keenness to protect the intellectual property rights of the brands.
The authority wants to ensure that consumers obtain products that conform to international specifications that consider all health and environmental conditions.
“The UAE Authorities are committed to protecting intellectual property rights and to enable trademark owners to maintain their business,” he added.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/crime/uae-dubai-custom-seized-huge-shipment-of-fake-skincare-products
Lear More
Chennai: Gold concealed in clothes, vessels seized from flyers
Chennai: Based on intelligence inputs, the officials intercepted two passengers who landed here from Kuwait at the exit in separate incidents. When their checked-in baggage were examined, officials found casseroles with glass lit. Growing suspicious, they dismantled the lid, the officials recovered gold cut bits concealed inside the handles.
In all, six gold cut bits each weighing 540 grams and 556 grams, respectively, were recovered. The gold, estimated to be worth Rs 54.87 lakh, was seized under Customs Act, 1962.
In another incident, a passenger who arrived from Dubai was intercepted at the exit. When the person’s checked-in luggage was checked, officials found five burqas that had buttons made of gold, four gold beads and a small cut chain.
Further, four iPhone 13 Pro Max and 4,800 sticks of cigarettes were also recovered. The goods worth Rs 3.86 lakhs were seized, and further investigations are on.
Lear More
Fake steroids, protein supplements worth Rs 2 crore recovered in Greater Noida; 3 arrested
The accused used to buy raw materials from Haryana, manufacture these supplements and label them with the stickers of leading foreign brands, said the police.
Three men were arrested by Noida Police for allegedly producing and selling fake steroids and supplements following a raid at Vishnauli on Saturday night. Products worth Rs 2 crore have been seized from the accused.
The accused, identified as Anuj Kumar Singh, Bachan Kumar and Pritam, made protein products, injections and other items used by fitness enthusiasts, said the police.
“We received information that fake steroids are being manufactured in a Greater Noida flat. Drug inspectors and the Badalpur (police) team raided the flat and the equipment were recovered. They had been making harmful products and packaging them as legitimate supplements. The accused used to supply it to many places,” said Elamaran G, ADCP.
Lear MoreGold worth ₹3.75 crore seized at Calicut Airport
Continuing with its seizure, the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) recovered about 7.5 kg of gold valued at nearly ₹3.75 crore from inbound Gulf passengers at the Calicut International Airport on Wednesday.
Officials said that the gold in compound form weighing 1.114 kg concealed inside the underwear and 1.170 kg concealed in the rectum were seized from Nithin George, 30, hailing from Thrissur. He arrived from Dubai.
Nearly 1. 865 kg of 24 carat gold having market value is ₹92.26 lakh was recovered after extraction of the compound.
In another case, customs seized gold in compound form weighing 676 grams from Abdul Kader Saya Abdul Rahman, 60, who had hidden the contraband in his underwear. He had arrived from Sharjah.
Based on specific intelligence input from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the AIU officials seized gold in paste form sandwiched between the layers of corrugated carton box from three passengers hailing from Kozhikode district who had arrived from Dubai.
The extraction from the compound pasted on cardboard boxes resulted in the recovery of 24 carat gold totally weighing 5.033kg having a market value of ₹2.49 crore, officials said.
Lear More
Chennai Air customs seize gold worth Rs 57 lakh
CHENNAI: Chennai Air Customs on Wednesday seized gold worth Rs 57 lakh, smuggled by international passengers.
Based on intelligence, three female passengers, who arrived from Dubai, were intercepted at the exit gate by Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers.
On examination, one gold-paste bundle concealed in rectum and six bangles were recovered from the three passengers.
The paste contained three gold ingots of 24k purity. In total, 90 grams of gold were seized from them, according to an official release from the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport on Wednesday.
In another case, a female passenger from Colombo was intercepted at the same location and three bundles of gold paste, concealed in rectum, were recovered. A total of 429 grams of gold was seized from her under Customs Act, 1962, the release said.
Lear MoreGold rods smuggled by passenger seized
Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit seized cylindrical shaped gold rods that were being smuggled by an air passenger who arrived here from Sharjah by an Air India Express flight on Saturday.
Based on intelligence, the male passenger was intercepted by the Customs officers at the exit gate. On examination of the checked-in luggage of the passenger, the officers found eight cylindrical shaped gold rods ingeniously concealed in the metal portions of two sand clocks and one double punch stapler machine. The quantity of the seized gold rods of 24 carat purity was 158 grams valued at ₹ 7.88 lakh. Further investigation was in progress, a press release here said.
Lear More