Chinese nationals held with 96 gold bars at Dhaka airport.
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on charges of trying to smuggle 96 gold bars weighing about 11kg into the country today.
Ruan Jinfeng, 48, and Yonggang Zu, 45, were caught hours apart with the bars hidden inside portable lights at the airport’s green channel.
Ruan was caught around 8:00am and Yonggang around 9:00pm, customs and customs intelligence officials said.
After Ruan was caught in the morning, his friend Yonggang kept waiting at the transit area throughout the day, said Shahidul Islam, director general of customs intelligence.
As officials found his demeanour suspicious, they brought him to the green channel and scanned his luggage and found 48 gold bars.
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China Breaks Counterfeit Goods Ring Worth 100 Million Yuan.
Chinese police have arrested 32 members of a group they said made and sold up to 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) worth of counterfeit luxury goods from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Loewe, state news agency Xinhua said. The case highlights the challenge faced by brands in China, whose products, such as cosmetics, and even automobiles, run the risk of being copied. Police in the commercial capital of Shanghai also closed two assembly lines used to make the counterfeits and seized more than 4,000 bags, clothes and accessories, each of which they said cost the group 200 yuan to make. Authorities launched the investigation last year, following a tip that knock-off luxury handbags were being sold on Chinese mobile messaging app WeChat, which is operated by Tencent Holdings.
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Custom officials arrest man for smugglings iPhones, branded shoes at Delhi airport
A man has been arrested by the customs officials, he was intercepted after his arrival from Muscat, Oman as he was trying to smuggle into the country iPhones, branded shoes and bags worth over Rs 32 lakh at Delhi airport. A man has been arrested by the customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country iPhones, branded shoes and bags worth over Rs 32 lakh at Delhi airport. He was intercepted after his arrival from Muscat, Oman, a statement issued by the customs department on Wednesday said. “His personal search resulted in recovery of 42 iPhones, branded bags and shoes, etc. having market value of Rs 32.06 lakh,” it said. During further enquiry, the passenger, who is a resident of Delhi, admitted smuggling of goods like clothes, shoes and cosmetics among others worth Rs 37 lakh in his past visits, the statement said. He has been arrested and the goods seized, it said https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-custom-officials-arrest-man-for-smuggling-iphones-branded-shoes-at-delhi-airport-510030
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China Cracks Counterfeiting Ring That Sold $15M of Goods.
Chinese police have arrested 32 members of a group they said had made and sold up to 100 million yuan ($15 million) worth of counterfeit luxury goods from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Loewe, state news agency Xinhua said. The case highlights the challenge faced by brands in China, where products, such as cosmetics and even automobiles, run the risk of being copied. Police in the commercial capital of Shanghai also closed two assembly lines used to make the counterfeits and seized more than 4,000 bags, clothes and accessories, each of which they said cost the group 200 yuan to make. Authorities launched the investigation last year, following a tip that knock-off luxury handbags were being sold on Chinese mobile messaging app WeChat, which is operated by Tencent Holdings.
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-cracks-counterfeiting-ring-that-sold-15m-of-goods/4840668.html
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Counterfeit pro audio products seized in China factory raid.
A factory raid in China has resulted in the seizure of counterfeit Shure, Sennheiser, Yamaha and Harman audio products. News of the raid on the Enping Soundpu Electronics Equipment (also doing business as Voxpu Electronics Equipment) was released by Shure this week. The raid ocurred in October. The on-site enforcement action was initiated by Shure and accomplished with close cooperation and assistance from the Enping Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the Enping Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC). The targeted factory is a repeat offender and known counterfeiter to the Enping enforcement authorities. Soundpu was fined in August 2018 by the Enping AIC after counterfeit Shure wireless microphones were found at Soundpu’s factory premises during a routine market investigation carried out in April 2018. Among the goods seized in the raid were wireless microphones and receivers, consoles, amplifiers, and processors. Shure has taken steps to initiate a criminal prosecution against the owner and managers of Soundpu, given its continued counterfeiting activities and blatant disregard for intellectual property rights.
Lear MorePolice detain two found with Sh5.7m in Euros, gold bars.
People will detain for 10 days two people arrested in Kalama, Marsabit County, with 4.6 kilograms of gold bars and 50,150 Euros (Sh5.7 million) for a probe into gold smuggling and money laundering. Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Ms Zainab Abdul on Tuesday heard that police from the Transnational Organised Crimes Unit arrested Issa Mohammed Dubow and Yunis Maalim Muktar at a road block on the Isiolo–Moyale route on March 13. While applying for the detention order, investigating officer Sergeant Stanley Musembi told Ms Abdul that “police suspect the two to be gold smugglers and dealers in laundered money”. He said he was investigating money laundering and the smuggling of gold from neighbouring countries.
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Police detain two found with Sh5.7m in Euros, gold bars.
People will detain for 10 days two people arrested in Kalama, Marsabit County, with 4.6 kilograms of gold bars and 50,150 Euros (Sh5.7 million) for a probe into gold smuggling and money laundering.
Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Ms Zainab Abdul on Tuesday heard that police from the Transnational Organised Crimes Unit arrested Issa Mohammed Dubow and Yunis Maalim Muktar at a road block on the Isiolo–Moyale route on March 13.
While applying for the detention order, investigating officer Sergeant Stanley Musembi told Ms Abdul that “police suspect the two to be gold smugglers and dealers in laundered money”.
He said he was investigating money laundering and the smuggling of gold from neighbouring countries.
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Hyderabad: Smuggled foreign cigarettes flood city.
Smuggled foreign cigarettes are back on the shelves of pan shops in the city prompting law enforcement agencies to step up the vigil. The Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force recently caught two traders from Begum Bazaar for illegally trading in foreign cigarettes and seized ‘Paris Cigarettes’ smuggled into the city. Previous year, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had seized huge consignments of the cigarettes illegally smuggled into the country. This apart, Indonesian cigarette brands like ‘Djarum Black’ and ‘Gudang Garam’ are smuggled into the country by non-declaration and concealment. According to authorities, the usual route to smuggle cigarettes into the country is through air and sea. Through the sea route they reach Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and by air, they reach Hyderabad via Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Traditionally, the markets of Osmangunj, Begum Bazaar and Monda Market have been the wholesale hubs of illegal foreign cigarettes.
https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-smuggled-foreign-cigarettes-flood-city
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Destroying illicit goods cost Revenue more than €170,000.
The Revenue Commissioners has spent more than €170,000 shredding illegal cigarettes, destroying fake branded goods and getting rid of illicit alcohol over the past three years. The costs are part of more than €2.8 million spent managing illegal goods that were seized during operations between 2016 and 2018. Figures reveal how an average of €875,000 is spent by Revenue each year keeping the State Warehouse running. The warehouse is used to store illegal cigarettes and alcohol, along with other items, with €2.625 million spent on employee salaries, collection and transport of seized goods, security, cleaning and other costs. Illegal alcohol is disposed of when a sufficient amount is available, usually between 15 and 20,000 litres, according to the Revenue Commissioners.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/destroying-illicit-goods-cost-revenue-more-than-170-000-v9hnmrdfk
Lear MoreStakeholder Consultation with Customs and DRI- Developing Strategic Actions Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting, New Delhi
18/03/2019| New Delhi
With each passing day, the world is becoming more and more interconnected with greater flow of goods, people, capital, information and technology. This provides countries with the opportunity to fast-track economic growth and development through increased international trade. This,on one hand proves to be beneficial to legitimate trade; while on the other hand it also benefits illegal trade, where criminals are making use of more integrated markets to illicitly move goods, people and money across borders. Hence, the new global trade landscape also brings new set of challenges. Customs administrations around the worldnot only contribute to socio-economic development by facilitating legitimate trade, but also protect national economies and societies against the threats posed by organized criminal syndicates and terrorists.
With a view to identify opportunities for joint action between Customs and industry to combat illicit trade, FICCI CASCADE organized a Stakeholder Consultation with Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on 18th March 2019 in FICCI. The principal purpose of the program was to understand the trends of smuggling and counterfeiting, measures taken by the Customs and DRI to thwart such activities and collaborative measures required in addressing this issue.
Mr. D P Dash, Pr. Director General, DRI was the Chief Guest at this consultation. In his address Mr. Dash emphasised on the importance of data while talking about this issue. He said that the quality of data with respect to illicit trade is a matter of concern worldwide and not only in India. The main issue is that data needs to be correct, complete, published on time and also interpreted correctly. Smuggling and counterfeit is a matter of worry with regards to the health and security in a big way and Mr. Dash suggested that we should have different strategic action plans for addressing (i) smuggling, (ii) counterfeiting and (iii) smuggling of counterfeit goods. He also urged the right holders to increase their participation and coordination with Customs.
Mr. O.P. Dadhich, Chief Commissioner of Customs, New Delhi in his address stated thatgetting information is a challenge as well as the biggest problem for Customs. He further added that tobacco, branded garments, cosmetics and mobile phone accessories are the biggest smuggling items in India.
Mr. Najib Shah, Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs & Member, FICCI CASCADE Think Tank in his address mentioned thatIllicit manufactures and non-paying of taxes impact government revenue on a large scale and hence it is imperative that Government must frame policies regarding the subject. Moreover, the problem of counterfeiting and smuggling not only impacts the revenue but also the employment of the country.
Mr. P. C Jha, Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and Advisor, FICCI CASCADE in his welcome remarks said that the total economic and social costs globally due to Counterfeiting and piracy worldwide stood at Rs. 57.23 lakh crore in 2013 and expected to go up to 119.7 lakh crore by 2022. Mr. Jha mentioned that 65% of the consumers buy counterfeit goods knowingly; hence it is important to change in the mindset of consumers to buy genuine products. Subsequently if consumers were to purchase only against bill- this will reduce the problem by 80%. He further emphasised the need to have stringent penal provisions under Trade Marks Act and Copyright Act to have a deterrent effect.
FICCI CASCADE has been successful in stirring an active debate on the topic nationally through various awareness programmes and initiatives engaging industry, policy makers, law enforcement officials, voluntary organizations, youth and consumer at large. Among other activities, FICCI CASCADE has been engaging with customs and DRI officials across India in various states highlighting the magnitude of the menace and discussing industry collaborative measures to address this issue. Over the past several years, CASCADE has also felicitated a Best Investigation Officer from the Customs and DRI for their exceptional skills in investigation of counterfeiting and smuggling activities.
This multi stakeholder dialogue apart from understanding the menace caused by illicit goods, also presented an essence of the on ground functioning of industry with customs officials. Some of the key issues deliberated were:
- Ongoing research and data analysis to understand the trends andmagnitude of the problem.
- Need for global standards from best practice around the world.
- International cooperation in facilitating exchange of information and intelligence.
- Need for tools and collaborative programs to support customs in the areas of intelligence, capacity building and training.
Leading industries, legal firms, technology providers, consumer organizations and other relevant stakeholders took part in the interactions.
