Nagpur: A major counterfeit goods racket has come to light in Vidarbha, including Nagpur, after the crime branch busted two shops selling fake household cleaning products. The crackdown followed a complaint from a private company whose branded products were being illegally replicated and sold under fake labels.Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by assistant police inspector Mangala Harde raided a grocery store near Shiv Mandir in Ishwar Nagar on Thursday. The shop owner, Vijay Dhengare (60), was caught with 35 counterfeit bottles of toilet cleaner Harpic.Further investigation led officers to another store in Maskasath, where Brijlal Pahuja (49) was found stocking 153 fake Harpic bottles and 16 counterfeit Lizol bottles, all packaged to closely mimic the original brands. The total value of the seized fake products is estimated at ₹13,364.
Phuket Airport Customs seizes illegal cigarettes worth over B71mn
PHUKET: Phuket Airport Customs officers have seized nearly 9.6 million illegal foreign cigarettes in a bust valued at more than B71 million, in one of the largest anti-cigarette smuggling operations ever recorded on the island.
Customs officials confirmed yesterday (Sept 25) that the haul of 9,568,000 illegal cigarettes was intercepted as part of an intensified crackdown on goods violating customs and intellectual property laws.
The seizure followed inspections carried out under the Customs Department’s national policy to protect the public from illegal products and to safeguard the Thai economy, said an official report of the operation.
Rs 2.12 cr gold, goods seized at airport
VASCO: Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of Customs seized gold and smuggled goods from five passengers, who had arrived from Sharjah at the Dabolim international airport. The value of the gold and seized goods is Rs 2.12 crore.
Acting on a tip off, the DRI team nabbed five passengers and during interrogation found in their possession 2.291 kg of gold valued at Rs 1.11 crore, American tobacco and eight old laptops all worth Rs 52.50 lakh and a high end combo costing Rs 49.08 lakh.
Of the five accused, two passengers each were from Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh and one from Bihar.
All of them were later produced before the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Margao, who remanded them to five days custody.
https://www.heraldgoa.in/goa/rs-2-12-cr-gold-goods-seized-at-airport/161933/
BIS seizes fake ISI-marked polyethylene pipes worth ₹3 lakh in Hyderabad
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has cracked down on a polyethylene pipe manufacturing unit in Hyderabad for illegally using the BIS Standard Mark without authorisation. Officials from the Hyderabad branch carried out a search and seizure operation on Wednesday, September 24 and confiscated 2,485 metres of pipes fraudulently stamped with a fake ISI mark. The seized stock, valued at around ₹3 lakh, was intended for water supply purposes. The unauthorised use of the BIS Standard Mark constitutes a violation of Section 17(3) of the BIS Act, 2016.
According to BIS officials, the Standard Mark is granted only after rigorous assessment of a manufacturer’s production and testing facilities to ensure products meet prescribed safety, quality, and health standards. The bureau has urged consumers to verify the authenticity of BIS-certified products, particularly packaged drinking water, food items, and essential materials such as water pipes.
Capacity Building Programme for Police Officers on Enforcement Against Illicit Economies: Strengthening the Role of Police in Preventing Transnational Crime
Focus State: Haryana
Date: 24th September 2025|10.00 am – 01.00 pm
FICCI CASCADE organised a capacity building programme for the police officers of Haryana on the theme titled “Enforcement Against Illicit Economies: Strengthening the Role of Police in Preventing Transnational Crime”, aimed at fostering dialogue and coordinated action against the growing threat of illicit trade. The programme brought together senior law enforcement officials, industry leaders, and international delegates to discuss the multifaceted challenges posed by counterfeiting and smuggling, their impact on economic growth, public safety, and consumer trust, and the critical role of coordinated enforcement efforts.
Addressing the programme and highlighting the importance of law enforcement in society, Mr. Karan Goel, IPS, DCP/West, Haryana Police Service, affirmed the pivotal role of law enforcement in safeguarding economic and social stability. He observed that illicit activities such as counterfeiting and smuggling strike at the very foundation of India’s aspiration to become a $5-trillion economy. These clandestine operations not only undermine legitimate businesses but also drain government revenues, hinder overall economic progress, and weaken the broader societal framework. Mr. Goel emphasized that confronting this menace collectively is essential to fortifying the economy against its corrosive effects.
He further highlighted that these illegal practices deprive lawful enterprises of their rightful share, endanger public safety, and erode consumer trust. Such challenges underscore the necessity for law enforcement agencies to be well-equipped, adequately trained, and fully informed, ensuring they can protect citizens effectively from the dangers posed by illicit trade and uphold public confidence.
Echoing these concerns, Mr Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, noted that counterfeiting and smuggling have wide-ranging detrimental impacts. These activities lead to significant losses for legitimate businesses, undermine consumer confidence, deprive the nation of essential revenue, and consequently hamper economic growth and development. In addition, the public health risks associated with counterfeit products remain a serious concern, threatening the safety and well-being of citizens.
Ms SHIMIZU Hiroko, Chairperson, IIPPF, opined that counterfeiting and smuggling extend beyond national borders, jeopardizing the integrity of global trade systems. She emphasized that such illicit activities are not merely economic offences but also harm consumers, distort competition, and stifle innovation. Ms. Hiroko stressed the importance of fostering stronger international collaboration and building resilient partnerships among governments, enforcement agencies, and industry stakeholders to effectively tackle this challenge.
Mr Ashish Paul, Vice President- Corporate Affairs, ITC Ltd. mentioned that counterfeit trade and smuggling significantly impede India’s economic potential. He emphasized that even a 50% reduction in illicit trade could unlock substantial economic growth, generate employment, and bolster legitimate businesses, contributing directly to India’s journey toward self-reliance. Mr. Paul highlighted the importance of raising awareness among young enforcement officials and informed consumers as a critical step toward strengthening enforcement mechanisms, supporting informed decision-making, and advancing the Prime Minister’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047.
The Interactive Session titled “A Unified Global Front: Strategic Action Against Illicit Markets”, featured active participation by the Japan delegation, including representatives from Seiko Epson, Yonex, Kubota, Canon, Casio India, Panasonic Life Solutions India, and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. The delegation shared their perspectives on the challenges posed by illicit trade, its impact on industry and consumers, and the need for stronger international cooperation, innovative enforcement strategies, and collaborative industry-government action to dismantle these illegal networks.
FICCI CASCADE has been working closely over the years with government, industry, enforcement officials, legal fraternity, consumer organizations and the youth to create awareness about the detrimental impact of counterfeiting and smuggling. Among other activities, FICCI CASCADE has been regularly engaging with law enforcement agencies including police, customs and central armed police forces engaged in border protection in sensitizing them on the gravity of the problem.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 150 officers in Haryana, who gained valuable insights and skills to counter the adverse effects of counterfeiting and smuggling.
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P2-M smuggled white onions, cigarettes seized in Manila
24 September 2025 | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Smuggled white onions and cigarettes worth almost PHP2 million were seized in two separate operations in Quiapo, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) said Wednesday.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP-HPG spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said two drivers were arrested after their trucks loaded with white onions were flagged along Carlos Palanca Street for seatbelt violation and improper plate attachment on Tuesday.
Malang said around 1,200 sacks in total, valued at PHP1.35 million and bearing “China” markings, came from a storage facility in Quiapo and were bound for Navotas and Bocaue, Bulacan.
11th Edition MASCRADE 2025
18-19 September 2025 | Hotel Lalit, New Delhi
Theme: Growing Illicit Trade: Destabilising Economic Welfare
Illicit trade remains one of the most pressing global threats undermining economic progress, rule of law, and consumer safety. It is an unfair trade practice that erodes legitimate business, distorts markets, weakens global supply chains, depletes natural resources, and endangers public security.
SANDF members nabbed for allegedly stealing smuggled cigarettes in midnight raid
Five members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as well as two Zimbabwean nationals, have been arrested on allegations of corruption and theft.
According to the SANDF, the group allegedly intercepted and stole a consignment of illicit cigarettes being smuggled into the country at the Sediba sa Tlou base in Artonvilla, near Musina, on Tuesday.
In a statement on Wednesday, the SANDF said preliminary reports indicated that the group conducted an unauthorised midnight raid where they allegedly fired shots, forcing the apparent smugglers to abandon 24 boxes of illicit cigarettes.
“It is alleged that the members, acting in concert with two Zimbabwean nationals, attempted to unlawfully intercept a group of smugglers transporting illicit cigarettes into South Africa,” said the SANDF.
Foreign origin cigarettes worth ₹1.29 crore seized from smugglers in Nagaland
In a significant breakthrough against illegal trade, ‘smuggled’ foreign-origin cigarettes valued at ₹1.29 crore were seized in Nagaland’s Peren district, officials said on Saturday.
A team of the Assam Rifles and the Nagaland Police intercepted a truck carrying a large consignment of foreign-origin cigarettes illegally in the Tening area on Friday, and recovered the tobacco products, they said.
The seizure marks a major success in the ongoing efforts to curb the smuggling of contraband items into Nagaland, they said.
Fake currency worth over 21L seized in Malda
Kolkata: The Bengal STF conducted a raid Tuesday night at PTS More, under Baishnabnagar Thana in Malda and recovered fake currency worth over Rs 21 lakh. The fake currency was brought in from Bangladesh, even as cops are probing a possible Nepal angle too. Two people have been arrested.”The arrested individuals have been identified as Hajrat Belal, aka Masud, aged 24, from Baishnabnagar, and Toriqul Islam, aged 25, from Kaliachak, both in Malda. The duo was found loitering suspiciously along the roadside of NH12, heading towards Farakka,” said SP (Operations) Indrajit Basu.Upon searching their belongings, the sleuths discovered two bags filled with bundles of counterfeit currency. The seized fake currency comprised a total of 4,174 notes of Rs 500.