Malta seizes over US$1 billion in ‘counterfeit’ Libyan money, says US
Moscow on Saturday (May 30) denied US reports that US$1.1 billion (S$1.5 billion) in Libyan money printed in Russia and seized by Maltese authorities was counterfeit.
The US State Department hailed Malta’s announcement about the seizure, saying it was “ordered by an illegitimate parallel entity”.
Russia’s foreign ministry insisted that the notes printed by Joint Stock Company Goznak – a Russian state-owned company – were legal tender.
Friday’s statement from the US State Department, said: “The Central Bank of Libya headquartered in Tripoli is Libya’s only legitimate central bank.
“The influx of counterfeit, Russian-printed Libyan currency in recent years has exacerbated Libya’s economic challenges.”
There was no official statement on Saturday from Valletta, although Malta Today newspaper had published a report about US$1.1 billion in counterfeit money seized in Malta on its Facebook site that was no longer available.
But the statement on Saturday from Russia’s foreign ministry said: “We would like to note that under the conditions of de facto double power in Libya, there are currently two central banks.”
Lear MoreWebinar on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, New delhi
29/05/2020 | New delhi
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the dangers posed by illicit trade. It calls for greater focus on addressing the growing hazards of counterfeiting and smuggling which are severely impacting the economy and endangering lives of people. While the government is continuously intensifying efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus by enacting various measures to support public health systems, safeguard the economy and ensure the safety of its citizens, illegal operators are taking full advantage of the pandemic. It is evident that they will use shortages in the supply of goods to increasingly provide illicit alternatives especially in essential and non essential items both online and offline. The current situation which is already witnessing a severe socio-economic distress, sale of such spurious goods will only worsen the problem. Hence, arresting the sale of illicit goods at the time of this unprecedented crisis needs our immediate and unwavering attention.
As the risks associated with the current pandemic rises, law enforcement services play a crucial role in contributing to the effort to control the disease, promoting safer communities, and fighting criminals who take advantage of the outbreak.
With the above backdrop in mind, FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy [CASCADE] organized a webinar on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond on 29th May 2020.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. O P Mishra, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Economic Offences Wing, Delhi Police. Dr. Mishra said, “Increasing surveillance, creating public awareness, coordination amongst law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, and capacity building for police officers are needed to counter the problem of counterfeiting and smuggling effectively”. He further added that the gap between demand and supply results in the emergence of counterfeit and smuggled goods in the market. Talking about this menace in the Indian market, he remarked that counterfeiting has increased so much that it has become very difficult to distinguish between the genuine and fake products.
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE made the welcome address and mentioned that “Just like COVID-19, illicit trade is also an invisible enemy which has no colour, no religion and no mercy on human beings. In times of such economic crisis, when legitimate businesses are struggling, illicit operators are trying to exploit the current situation by flooding the market with smuggled and counterfeit goods.”
Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi emphasised that COVI19 has provided opportunity to criminals to exploit the current situation to find new ways to make money. They are increasing and diversifying their activities through a wide range of crimes and scams which exploit the fear and uncertainty surrounding the virus. In particular, an increase in counterfeit healthcare products, fraud and cybercrime is being seen. This problem will only increase with respect to essential and non essential goods as relaxations take place and normalcy resume.
Several industry players and brand owners from leading companies participated in the webinar and deliberated on industry issues and challenges in containing the flow of illicit products during the current crisis and the need for strengthening enforcement & surveillance mechanism. Discussions revolved around the collaborative role of police and industry in thwarting this menace. Leveraging emerging technologies to battle illicit operators during the pandemic was also highlighted.
CASCADE, has been over the years working closely with government, industry, enforcement officials, legal fraternity, consumer organizations and the youth to create awareness on the adverse impact of this menace. One of FICCI CASCADE’s mandate is capacity building of law enforcement agencies and we have worked extensively and intensively in this area organizing training programmes for police officers across India and interactions with the law enforcement authorities to emphasize on the importance of awareness and seriousness of the impact of counterfeit and smuggled goods.
Fake cigarettes manufactured locally seized in Pagadian City
Counterfeit cigarettes and materials used in manufacturing fake cigarettes were uncovered in a warehouse in Pagadian City during a raid by Customs agents, the Bureau of Customs said Friday, May 29.
Several boxes of cigarettes bearing the brands of Two Moon, Mighty, Union, and Farstar among others were confiscated in a warehouse allegedly used to manufacture fake cigarettes for distribution in Zamboanga Peninsula last May 20.
In a belated report from the Customs bureau, had the boxes of cigarettes went to the market, the locally-made counterfeit cigars would generate around P14 million.
Some materials used in producing the fake products including machines worth P100 million were also found in the warehouse, Port of Zamboanga Acting District Collector Sigmundfreud Barte, Jr. said.
According to Barte, the operation was conducted by the Zamboanga Peninsula inter-agency team composed of the regional offices of Bureau of Customs, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Coast Guard, and local police.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/29/fake-cigarettes-manufactured-locally-seized-in-pagadian-city/
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Customs foils distribution of P10.1-M smuggled cigarettes in ZamBaSulta area
Hundreds of cases of smuggled cigarettes intended for distribution in the Zamboanga, Basilan, and Sultan Kudarat (Zambasulta) area in Mindanao were intercepted Tuesday when authorities staked out to respond to an intelligence report.
Assorted cigarettes bearing the brands Gundang Baru, Cannon White, Famous, Canyon, Berlin and Fort worth P10,125,000 were seized by a joint team from the Port of Zamboanga, local police, and Joint Task Force Zamboanga in Istanbak, Barangay Lower Calarian, Zamboanga City.
According to the bureau, the seized cigarettes “most likely came from Malaysia or Indonesia” and are intended for distribution in areas in the Zambasulta area.
Following an information that that certain individuals are engaged in cigarette smuggling in Lower Calarian, the joint team trooped to the area to intercept the operation, the Customs bureau furthered.
The seized cigarettes were later turned over to Port of Zamboanga for issuance of Warrant of Seizure and Detention for violation of Executive Order No. 245 titled Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco Products and Section 117 of RA 10863 otherwise known as Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
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DRI sleuths seize cigarettes worth Rs 3 crore in Andhra Pradesh
VIJAYAWADA: Sleuths of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 29,99,600 foreign brand cigarettes worth Rs 3 crore which are being smuggled to Vijayawada on Sunday. The DRI officials also compounded the vehicle used for transporting the stock.
Acting on a tip-off that ‘PARIS’ brand cigarettes are being illegally transported, the DRI-Vijayawada unit launched an operation and intercepted a container truck bearing registration number RJ11 GB3685 on its way from New Delhi near a godown at P Nainavaram village.
Upon inspection, DRI officials found that the vehicle was loaded with HDPE woven sacks containing goods stitched from the top end where the cigarettes were kept hidden under stainless steelware. When questioned, the driver told officials that the vehicle started from New Delhi with another driver and after reaching Gwalior, he took over the vehicle and drove to Vijayawada as per the instructions of his management.
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Cigarette smugglers caught after high-speed chase in Limpopo
Police continue to crack down on illicit cigarette smugglers and traders as government vows to keep the tobacco ban in place during Level 3 lockdown.
On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that the prohibition of tobacco products, which was first instituted in late March, would be upheld when the country enters Level 3 lockdown on 1 June.
The cigarette ban, fiercely defended by Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has been widely condemned by South African smokers and tax watchdogs alike. While the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) continues its legal fight to overturn the ban, the burgeoning black market maintains its grip on the cigarette supply chain.
The illicit trade as a result of Disaster Management Act regulations, which has forced 11 million South African smokers to either go cold turkey or engage in criminal activity to feed their nicotine habit, is estimated to cost the economy in excess of R35 million a day. The exorbitant loss of uncollected excise duties has been condemned by economists and civil societies.
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AG to take call on empowering liquor smuggling probe team
Haryana Legal Remembrancer (LR) has returned the file on giving opinion on empowering Special Enquiry Team (SET) invoking Section 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for taking statements of witnesses. Now, Advocate General BR Mahajan will give his opinion on the matter.
The SET was formed to probe liquor smuggling.
According to Home Minister Anil Vij, the LR has said that the LR office doesn’t give opinion on criminal matters.
“The LR has suggested taking the opinion of either Haryana AG or the Prosecution Department,” said Vij. He added, “Now, the AG will give his opinion.”
When asked about the delay as the deadline (May 31) to give the SET report is approaching, Vij said that still “adequate time is available”.
Earlier, Vij had written to the Home Secretary for empowering SET probing liquor smuggling under Section 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) immediately so that they could summon and record statements of witnesses.
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Customs seize RM1.65m worth of illicit cigarettes in Tawau
TAWAU, May 23 ― The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) seized RM1.65 million worth of illicit cigarettes during “Ops Supply Raya” raids in this district from April 24 until yesterday.
Sabah Customs assistant director Datuk Abdullah Jaapar said the various types and branded cigarettes were worth RM363,364 with unpaid taxes amounting to RM1,288,504.60.
Among the biggest seizures was during a raid in the wee hours of May 15 at a house in Kampung Sri Aman, where several boxes containing various types of smuggled cigarettes worth RM242,900 were found,” he said in a statement today.
Abdullah said the raids will continue until May 25, adding that despite no arrests made so far, the raids have managed to cripple cigarette smuggling syndicates in this district. ― Bernama
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Xiaomi bursts fake Mi Bluetooth Headsets production ring
Xiaomi‘s Legal department has announced the apprehension of a criminal ring that specialises in production and sales of fake Mi Bluetooth headsets.
The legal team disclosed that they received a report in March this year and subsequently discovered an online shopping platform that sold a large number of counterfeit Mi Bluetooth headsets. The company hinted that they swung into action with the assistance of the security forces and were able to track the production base of the fake Mi headsets to an industrial park in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in April.
The team also disclosed that some of the products have already been fully produced while some others were still in production when the crack team stormed the factory. Over 1000 units of the fake Mi Bluetooth headsets, packaged in similar boxes as the original products were seized and the culprits apprehended. Xiaomi will also pursue a legal means of bringing the culprits to book.
The popularity of Xiaomi products has made it a lucrative venture for counterfeiters who ope to profit from the brand’s highly sought-after products. There have even been reports of fake Xiaomi phones and other products in the ecosystem. The fake products are not only a problem in China but even in India where the brand has attained unprecedented popularity. In December 2019, fake Xiaomi products worth over 13 Lakhs or $18,000 were confiscated at Delhi’s Gaffar Market in India.
https://www.gizmochina.com/2020/05/21/xiaomi-bursts-fake-mi-bluetooth-headsets-production-ring/
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Arrests made in U.S. currency counterfeiting operation in Peru
On April 4, the United States Secret Service office in Lima, Peru, and the Peruvian National Police Anti-Counterfeit Group arrested two individuals for manufacturing counterfeit United States currency, trafficking in counterfeit currency, and organized crime.
The agency said in a May 8 press release that $15 million in counterfeit U.S. currency, an offset printing press, and ink canisters were seized. The operation began in February when the two agencies began an investigation into the reproduction and distribution of U.S. Federal Reserve notes. It included undercover phone calls, wire intercepts, surveillance, and purchasing of counterfeit U.S. currency, along with information provided by criminal associates.
Special Agent in Charge Brian Swain said, “These are trying times but that does not mean that the Secret Service will not continue their investigative and protective no-fail mission.” The defendants will be prosecuted by the Peruvian Justice System. The warrant was executed with extreme caution due to the risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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