Quantum cascade lasers ‘can detect falsified drugs’.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have developed a miniaturised quantum cascade laser (QCL) device that could provide a new, no-contact way of rapidly distinguishing falsified from genuine medicines.
The matchbox-sized unit has already showed its security potential in the rapid detection of explosive or toxic substances – at a distance of several metres – and Fraunhofer is in the process of seeking out industry partners to develop that commercial application. At the same time, it is assessing QCL for pharmaceutical applications, including not only detection of counterfeits but also monitoring the quality of medicines during manufacturing.
The semiconductor-based infrared laser technology comes from a tie-up between Fraunhofer’s Dresden-based Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS – which has been working on the detector component of the device – and its Institute for Applied Solid State Physics which developed the tunable laser chips.
Lear MoreRevealed: Big challenge faced by Indian industry
Chennai: “The illicit market for fake and smuggled products is one of the biggest challenges faced by Indian industry,” ADGP, Crime Branch CID, Tamilnadu, K Jayanth Murali stated at a seminar on Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling – An Imperative to Accelerate Economic Development organised by FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) on Tuesday.
The seminar discussed the importance of increased awareness on the hazards of counterfeiting and smuggling, and the need for effective enforcement to enhance India’s economic development.
Jayanth Murali said, “The illicit market for fake and smuggled products is one of the biggest challenges faced by Indian industry. In India, the issue of fake currency is also a serious problem as it is lucrative, offering higher returns. India has porous borders with countries like Nepal and Bangladesh which gives smugglers good opportunity to smuggle products into India. China is also posing a serious threat to India on this issue.”
https://www.newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/03/28/revealed-big-challenge-faced-by-indian-industry/
Lear MoreFICCI raises awareness on smuggled and counterfeit goods by organizing seminars nationally
Delhi: FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) an industry body working on addressing the issue smuggled and counterfeit goods in the country is organzing large-scale awareness programmes nationally involving the government and other agencies to fight the menace of illicit trade. As part of the awareness campaign, it has lined up a slew of activities, including seminars, youth and consumer sensitization programs, capacity building of enforcement officials in different states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir etc. Today, FICCI CASCADE organized a seminar on ‘Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling – An Imperative to Accelerate Economic Development’ with representation from enforcement agencies and policy makers of Tamil Nadu Government.
FICCI also highlighted incidents of increasing number of seizures especially for products lie Gold, Cigarettes, Machinery Parts, Fabric/Silk Yarn and Electronic Items that has witnessed the highest number of DRI seizures in the past few years. The number of incidents of smuggling of cigarettes & tobacco products in India has increased by 136%* from 1312 cases in 2014-15 to 3108 cases in 2016-17.
Lear MoreFICCI meet highlights menace of counterfeit products
The menace posed by counterfeit products such as auto parts and packaged foods was highlighted at a seminar on combating duplicates of popular brands held here today.
Speakers at the event discussed various aspects of the counterfeit problem, including the government incurring losses running into thousands of crores, apart from health hazards.
The meet – ‘Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling An Imperative to Accelerate Economic Development’ was organised by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE).
Advisor, FICCI, CASCADE, P C Jha said the estimated loss to the industry in sectors including alcoholic beverages, auto components, computer hardware, FMCG packaged foods and FMCG personal goods, mobile phones and tobacco had increased by Rs 32,412 crore between 2011-’12 to 2013-’14.
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CBP seizes more than $1 million of counterfeit speakers at International Falls port
More than $1 million of counterfeit home theater speaker systems in a rail car headed for Ranier were seized in February by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
CBP Office of Field Operations officers working at the International Falls Port of Entry targeted a rail container destined to arrive in Ranier. In February, CBP officers inspected the rail container and discovered merchandise in violation of intellectual property rights regulations.
The merchandise consisted of 480 home theater speaker systems. Examination of the speaker systems revealed counterfeit markings. The counterfeit merchandise has an aggregate manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1.38 million.
“Counterfeiting adversely affects lawful rights holders of their original ideas and the ability to make a profit from them,” Anthony Jackson, International Falls port director, said in a news release. “Counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.”
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Four busts at IGI airport: Gold smuggling, now in fruit drink mixture
For the last two months, 30-year-old Sahansha had been desperately looking for an opportunity to return to his village in Rajasthan from Riyadh. He had landed in Abu Dhabi with high hopes, but had soon realised that he had been cheated on the pretext of a job.
Then he got an offer: He would get Rs 8,000 and a ticket to India, but would have to carry along a packet with a powdered fruit drink mixture. In reality, though, the packet contained 695 grams of gold — in the form of granules. Clueless, he landed in Delhi — only to be apprehended by Customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday.
The seizure is one of four cases at IGI airport in the past month of gold granules being found inside such packets. “Gold granules mixed with fruit drink powder are hard to detect. Smugglers mix them in a way that it’s impossible to spot it with the naked eye. But customs officials segregate the two powders using sieves of different sizes, and detect it in an X-ray scanner,” a senior official said.
Lear MoreCandlelight Campaign Against Counterfeits
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Students of Christ Nagar College participated in a candlelight congregation, organised by FICCI as part of a nation-wide awareness campaign to highlight the growing menace of illegal trade activities in the district.
More than 150 students and consumers with candles in their hand and banners stating ‘Buy Genuine Not Smuggled’ participated in congregation in the city. Fr Titto Varghese, principal, Christ Nagar College and Savio Mathew, head FICCI Kerala State Council felicitated the campaign.
IGP Crime Branch S Sreejith was the chief guest. He congratulated FICCI CASCADE for taking the steps to enrol the youth in the fight against illegal trade such as smuggled and counterfeit goods. Sreejith said the activities involving illegal curbs economic independence and one must pledge to not use fake products. He said the fight against smuggling is a necessity in the larger interest of the nation’s economy.
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Countering counterfeiting
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to generate awareness about the growing menace of counterfeiting and smuggling, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising a workshop on ‘Combating smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy – an imperative to accelerate economic development’ on February 21 at 10 am at Hotel Vivanta by Taj.
Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar will inaugurate the programme. ‘’Counterfeiting and smuggling activities are highly pervasive across countries and sectors, representing a multi-billion-dollar industry globally that continues to grow and impact commerce and industry, government, economies and the society at large. According to recent estimates, by the year 2022, the value of counterfeit and pirated goods will be around $2.81 trillion. Hence, it is increasingly imperative to deliberate on this subject and find ways and means to mitigate this challenge,’’ FICCI said in a statement.
Lear MoreSeminar on Counterfeiting, Smuggling on Feb 21
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 19 (UNI) A seminar on ‘Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling — An Imperative to Accelerate Economic Development’ will be held here on February 21.
The objective of the event is to outline the impact of counterfeiting and smuggling.
Senior Government officials of Industries, Commerce, Police and Customs departments will take part in the discussions during the seminar.
The event is organised by FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying Economy (CASCADE).
Kerala Agriculture Minister Adv. V. S. Sunil kumar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Thilothaman will grace the occasion.
http://www.uniindia.com/seminar-on-counterfeiting-smuggling-on-feb-21/states/news/1142917.html
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60,000 cigarettes, 30 kilos of rolling tobacco seized after car stopped in Derry
A 48-year-old man has been arrested, and approximately 60,000 cigarettes and more than 30 kilograms of hand rolling tobacco (HRT), seized by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) today in Derry.
The man was interviewed by HMRC officers on Friday 16 February, after a car was stopped by the PSNI in the the city area and searched. A quantity of cigarettes and HRT were discovered inside the car. HMRC officers also carried out a follow up search at a domestic premises in Newry and seized more tobacco products. The suspected illicit tobacco products are worth an estimated £33,000 in lost duty and taxes. Steve Tracey, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Tobacco fraudsters undercut legitimate retailers depriving the UK of money needed to fund our public services. “HMRC will continue to target the supply of illicit tobacco, which costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year.
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