Project Pace bust nets $6.5M in counterfeit goods
TORONTO – A massive probe into the sale of counterfeit goods spanning Canada and the U.S. has ended with nearly two dozen arrests, more than 100 charges laid and millions of dollars of knock-offs seized, Toronto Police said Friday. The operation, dubbed Project PACE (Partners Against Counterfeiting Everywhere), was launched in August and targetted businesses in the GTA, South Simcoe and Windsor that were allegedly manufacturing and selling phoney goods, police said. “In most cases, consumers purchase a product in good faith, never imagining that an item is sub-standard and is in fact a fake that could possibly pose a serious health and safety risk to the unsuspecting user,” Staff-Supt. Jim Ramer said at police headquarters. Toronto Police decided to join together with an assortment of law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other partners to combat the sale of such products and raise consumer awareness, he said.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/29/project-pace-bust-nets-65m-in-counterfeit-goods
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Fake viagra among $6.5 million worth of knock-offs seized by Toronto police in international counterfeiting probe
An international counterfeiting probe into businesses across southern Ontario and the GTA has resulted in 21 arrests and the seizure of thousands of knock-off products worth over $6.5-million, Toronto police confirmed Friday. Imitation designer Burberry products, ice wines, MAC Cosmetics, designer clothing and jewelry and electronics, even Viagra and fake TTC tokens, were allegedly smuggled over the U.S. border. The items were seized from 13 locations in Southern Ontario, several of them in Ontario, that police allege are manufacturing and profiting from the illegal activity. Police said the fake products have put the public at risk, because they pose health and safety hazards. Profits from counterfeit sales are also sometimes used to fund terrorism, warned police. Charges against the accused include fraud, possession for the purpose of trafficking in stolen goods and possession of property obtained by crime.
Lear MoreFake goods valued at $6.5M seized in Toronto
‘Unsafe’ knockoffs included Viagra, cosmetics, contact lenses
Police in Toronto have charged 21 people in an investigation involving millions of dollars in fake goods and products, including wine, cosmetics and male-enhancement medications, such as Viagra. More than 100 charges were laid in connection with the sale of fake consumer goods worth an estimated $6.5 million, police say. The goods, which police said were “substandard and potentially hazardous” included everything from knock off versions of Viagra and Cialis to makeup, contact lenses, even ice wine and TTC tokens. Police said the fake TTC tokens were smuggled to Canada from China inside shower curtain rods. Police told CBC News they believe they are in circulation.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fake-goods-valued-at-6-5m-seized-in-toronto-1.2444962
Lear MoreYouth festival-Youth Against Counterfeiting and Smuggling, Chandigarh
28/11/2013 | Chandigarh
“Freedom from Fakes and Smuggled goods”
FICCI-CASCADE with support of Education Department, Chandigarh organized a youth festival on 28th November, 2013 on the theme of “Freedom from Fakes and Smuggled goods” to increase awareness among the youth to fight against the menace of counterfeiting and smuggling.
Around 150 students took a pledge to take proactive action and “Quit Fake” and “Fight Smuggling”.
Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Member of Parliament & Former Union Railway Minister inaugurated the event and invoked the pledge among students. In his address the MP congratulated FICCI CASCADE for initiating such an important movement and asked the students to actively join this movement in the interest of nation’s economy and security. He observed that the menace of counterfeiting and smuggling is not only harming the industry and the government but also tarnishing the country’s image. He referred to FICCI CASCADE study on “Socio-economic Impact of Counterfeiting, Smuggling and Tax evasion in seven key Industry Sectors” and highlighted the sales loss to the industry as Rs. 1,00,000 crores and tax loss to government in the year 2012 as Rs. 26, 190 crores in 7 specific sectors. He further added that theses unscrupulous fellows add to the threat to the national security, further adding the terrorism in the country. Mr. Bansal pointed out the fact that the high rate of taxes in the country is not curtailing the illicit trade; the need of the hour is engagement of law enforcement agencies, youth, and consumers at large. He insisted on the fact that one must ask for a bill while making any purchase.
Mr. V K Singh, Education Secretary & Finance Secretary, Chandigarh delivered the special address. He stated the problem as huge and the end consumer as the main sufferers. He mentioned that consumers are duped because he is not receiving his money’s worth. He highlighted various live examples related to counterfeiting and smuggling and appreciated CASCADE for its work. He said active involvement of students is a great initiative because idea planted in their minds is carried a long way.
The competition focused on the detrimental effects of smuggled, counterfeit and fake goods on the health and safety of consumers, with specific topics like, “Say no to Fakes”, and “Does Black Money encourage crime in society?” The paintings created by the students also brought to fore the steps, which can be taken by consumers to avoid being duped o purchasing these fake products, with topics like “Be responsible: Insist on a bill”.
China is still a notorious market for movie and TV show piracy, report says
China has made an appearance on an industry list of international markets targeted by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for distributing pirated movies and television shows. The list, submitted to an intellectual property US trade representative, highlights a selection of notorious websites, internet newsgroups, peer-to-peer online networks and physical locations renowned for sharing illegal content. Various countries, including Russia, Brazil, Canada, Thailand and Indonesia are all accounted for, but China is specifically highlighted five times. Amongst the culprits identified by the report are Xunlei.com (now known as Kankan.com) and Kuaibo.com, both sites that offer downloadable applications which allow for the distribution of copyrighted movies. Of the two sites, Kuaibo.com is identified as by the report as “a primary threat to the stability of legitimate [Chinese] digital distribution,” citing allegations from “rights holders and licensees in China.”
Lear MoreCounterfeit cell phone cases, perfumes look real enough to fool
As the holiday shopping season kicks off, federal agents are warning consumers about counterfeit products showing up on store shelves and websites. The items – which can include pricey headphones, cell phone cases, DVDs and perfumes – may look real from the outside, with elaborate boxes designed to dupe the consumer. But inside, the items are fake. Authorities say tip-offs to spotting a fake include misspelled words on the box, missing packaging and – often one of the biggest keys – the price. “If the price is too good to be true it probably is and you’re probably not buying a real product,” said Carissa Cutrell, public affairs officer for Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa. Counterfeit Beats headphones, OtterBox cell phone cases and Chloe perfume are among the items agents seized in the Tampa Bay area.
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Government losing millions due to foreign cigarettes
The New Zealand Government is losing up to $89.1 million per annum in tax revenue due to tobacco brought in to the country from overseas, ASPIRE 2025 researchers estimate. The figure is based on new research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal from a study involving the collection of discarded cigarette packs. ASPIRE 2025 Co-Director Professor Richard Edwards commented that much of the lost revenue is likely due to duty-free imports, and as it doesn’t include cigarettes purchased duty free by arriving passengers at New Zealand airports, the figure is likely to a be a conservative estimate of lost revenue. He noted that the availability of cheap duty free tobacco products undermines the impact of tax increases and the ability to achieve the Government’s goal of a smokefree New Zealand by 2025. “Tobacco excise increases are highly effective at encouraging smokers to quit and discouraging children from starting to smoke. Duty-free tobacco imports undermine this by making cheap cigarettes available to smokers and to children who, as a result, may be more tempted to try smoking,” Professor Edwards says.
http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/
Natural News Exclusive: Amazon.com (AMZN) sells fake, counterfeit nutritional products to unsuspecting consumers
A Natural News investigation has confirmed that Amazon.com (AMZN) is functioning as a retail “front” for a rapidly-expanding list of dietary supplement counterfeiters who profit by exploiting the Amazon.com trust factor to sell fake products to unsuspecting Amazon customers. This counterfeit operation does not appear to be the intention of Amazon.com itself, which is a widely-celebrated online retailer, but rather a result of Amazon’s inability to adequately police the tens of thousands of third-party sellers who sell products through the site. Natural News, a consumer advocacy whistleblower news organization, has learned and confirmed that:
http://www.naturalnews.com/043057_amazoncom_counterfeit_products_misrepresentation_and_fraud.html#
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61 petrol pumps selling smuggled POL products demolished; Customs launches operation to comply Supreme Court orders
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs, in joint operation against smuggled oil sales at various fuel stations, on Sunday demolished 61 petrol pumps and confiscated plant and machinery besides seizing thousands of liters POL products. In a statement, MCC Preventive launched the operation on Sunday morning and demolished 61 illegal petrol pumps. The illegally constructed and installed plant / machinery were also removed and confiscated by the district administration. Thirdly, the customs authorities seized thousands of liters of smuggled POL products. The crack down launched in compliance with the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding coordinated and joint efforts against illegal movement of smuggled and contraband goods, a number of meetings were arranged by the Attorney General of Pakistan which were attended by Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, Director General Anti-Narcotics Force, Director General Pakistan Coast Guards, Director General Maritime Security Agency and Chief Secretary Sindh.
Lear More2.5 tonnes of banned tobacco products seized at Sowcarpet in Chennai
CHENNAI: The Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration seized 2.5 tonnes of banned tobacco products at Sowcarpet here on Tuesday. The seizure has exposed that the sale of gutka and pan masala products are rampant across the city despite the crackdown on it by the department. Several shops in the city continue to sell these banned products at inflated prices. 
Based on a tip-off, officials raided three private godown at Sowcarpet and found several bags of banned tobacco products. District food safety officer S Lakshmi Narayan said that the seized tobacco products from two godowns were worth of Rs 8 lakh. “We have destroyed the products in Kodungaiyur dumpyard and also served notices to them”. There has been a spurt in smuggling of chewing tobacco products from neighbouring states after the state imposed a ban on the products. Several tonnes of tobacco products were seized by the department since the state government banned the sale of gutka and pan masala in May, sources said. The large commercial establishments continue to store such banned products and selling through various retail shops at exorbitant rates. “There is a huge demand for the products in Chennai and other parts of the state. So we have decided to intensify the raids across the city to confiscate such banned products” said Lakshmi Narayan. Health experts say migrant labourers constitute the major chunk of pan masala users in Chennai and that such products are among the major cause for the increasing incidence of mouth cancer.