Pune: Maharashtra Excise Department has taken a massive action in Pune along with the city police where it conducted investigation in L3 pub and found out huge storage of illegal liquor, around 241 litres of foreign liquor and others amounting to 3 lakhs, which were all later seized. As per the investigation, the materials were found in the same building of Rainbow Hotel.
Over 34 Lakh Fake Currency Seized In Guwahati; 2 Arrested
GUWAHATI: An East Guwahati Police District (EGPD) team of the Guwahati Police seized Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) worth over 234 lakh and arrested two suspects in connection with the seizure.
A team from Dispur Police Station (PS) seized the large cache and arrested the suspects, Hiramul Islam (24) from Bihpuria and Nazirul Islam (19) from Laluk, who were traveling in a vehicle when they were intercepted. Upon inspection, the police discovered FICN amounting to 234,09,000, all in ₹500 denominations.
https://guwahatiplus.com/guwahati/over-rs34-lakh-fake-currency-seized-in-guwahati-2-arrested
Over 900 liquor bottles seized from Guj train
Mumbai: Over 900 bottles of liquor were seized from the toilet of a sleeper coach of the Kochuveli-Porbandar train at Vasai on Monday. The seizure was made after alert passengers informed the railway police. Passengers who suspected foul play on inspecting the box found 90ml and 180 ml liquor bottles in it.
Bars, Liquor shops raided in Hyderabad; 48L alcohol seized
Hyderabad: Three people were arrested, and 48 litres of alcohol worth ₹1,06,000 were seized during a raid by the Commissioner’s Task Force on Monday morning in Banjara Hills, Borabanda, and Chikkadapally. The accused, Chittuluri Srinivas, V. Narsihma, and M. Mallesh, were found serving liquor illegally at The Blue Heaven Restaurant and Bar, violating excise regulations.
https://inshorts.com/en/news/bars–liquor-shops-raided-in-hyderabad–48l-alcohol-seized-1719228709825
Indian cosmetics worth Tk 11 lakh seized in Sunamganj
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized Indian cosmetics and Nasir Biri worth TK 11 lakh from the Doarbazar border area in Sunamganj on Saturday night.
The goods were seized from the godown of Rabbil Miah at Chowdhurypara bazar under Banglabazar union in the upazila.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Bastola BOP, Sunamgang Battalion (28 BGB), conducted a raid in the area and seized the illegal products from the godown around 11:30 pm.
During the raid, the paramilitary force seized a total of 38,000 Indian Nasir Biri, 2,820 piece Nivea Soft Cream, 490 piece Nivea body lotion, 80 kilograms of East Powder, and 25 kilograms of rice.
Fake currency notes printed by Maoists seized from Chhattisgarh forest: Police
The security forces recovered a huge cache of fake currency notes printed by Maoists and the equipment used for it from a forest in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday evening, officials said.
During a search of the site, the security personnel recovered a cache of fake notes in the denominations of ₹50, ₹100, ₹200 and ₹500, a coloured printing machine, a black and white printer, an inverter machine, 200 bottles of ink, four cartridges of printer machine, nine printer rollers, six wireless sets, its charger and batteries, he said.
Two muzzle loading guns, a huge cache of explosives, other materials and Naxal uniform clothes were also seized, Chavan said.
Tamil Nadu: Illicit liquor seized in Trichy, days after Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy
In the wake of the deaths in Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu in which 50 people died, 250 liters of illicit liquor were seized and disposed off in the state’s Tiruchirapalli district.
The action was taken by Tiruchirapalli District Collector, Pradeep Kumar and Superintendent of Police, Varun Kumar, based on intelligence input on Friday night, police said.
24 nabbed in Kapurthala, drugs, illicit liquor seized
Kapurthala: During a cordon and search operation (CASO) carried out by the Kapurthala police, 51 grams of heroin, 500 grams of poppy husk, 900 intoxicant capsules, 1100 intoxicant tablets, 57,000 ml illicit liquor, 45500 ml liquor, 315 gram intoxicant powder, two tractors, an Innova and 10 two-wheelers were seized by the police.
The district police on Friday carried out Operation Eagle 4 arresting 24 persons with registration of 22 FIRs. The entire operation was supervised by ADGP (Internal Security) Shive Kumar Verma.
The police teams led by SSP Vatsala Gupta and SPs and DSPs concerned conducted a search at 11 drug hot spots. The police also verified as many as 246 suspects in all four sub-divisions of the district, she added.
SSP Vatsala Gupta said that the search operation was aimed to nab those found involved in drug peddling and that the anti-drug campaign would be a continuous process. The police teams raided the hot spots from 8 am to 2 pm so that the drug traffickers could be nabbed. During the operation, police teams also arrested two proclaimed offenders besides seizing 13 suspicious vehicles across the district, she added.
Thirteen people arrested by authorities in Victoria, WA in operation targeting illegal tobacco trade
Police have arrested 13 people — some with alleged links to a Middle Eastern crime group — over the cigarette war that has led to the fire bombings of dozens of tobacco stores across Australia.
On Monday, Victoria Police executed six search warrants, including at an address in Sunbury in Melbourne’s north, where they said about 2.4 million illicit cigarettes were seized, along with 15 firearms, a stolen vehicle and a gel blaster. A further 50,000 illicit cigarettes, 30 kilograms of loose tobacco, vapes, a crossbow, ammunition, cash and drugs, including cocaine, steroids and magic mushrooms, were seized from other Melbourne addresses in Wollert, Collingwood, Werribee and Altona Meadows, investigators said.
Meanwhile in WA, police said 5.9 million illicit cigarettes, $1.7 million in cash, five vehicles with a combined value of $500,000, and 41,000 vapes were part of a significant haul seized during searches at private homes, storage units and retail outlets. The head of the syndicate with alleged links to a Middle Eastern crime — a 29-year-old man previously from Victoria — moved to Perth two years ago to help establish an illegal tobacco network, police said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-21/victoria-police-tobacco-war-arrests-wa-police/104007356
Seminar on Global Challenges of Illicit Trade and the Way Forward
20th June 2024,Thursday | Commission Room, FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi
Smuggling and illicit trade are complex global threats undermining society, harming legitimate economies, and reducing government revenues. Apart from this, these operations now use advanced technologies and global supply chains to evade detection, funding criminal enterprises and terrorist organizations, and compromising national security. In response, FICCI CASCADE organized a seminar on June 20, 2024, titled “Global Challenges of Illicit Trade and the Way Forward,” to address these issues and foster collaboration against this universal threat. With extensive participation from government bodies, industry leaders, law enforcement agencies, and civil society, the seminar facilitated a comprehensive discussion. While various perspectives were shared, the primary focus remained on formulating effective strategies to combat this growing menace.
“Combating such expansive networks demands a coalition of government bodies and non-state actors,” remarked Mr. Mohan Kumar Singh, Principal Director General of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). He vividly illustrated the profound threat of illicit trade and highlighted how smuggling and counterfeiting erode legitimate economic activities, deplete government revenues, and fuel organized crime. With striking statistics, Mr. Singh revealed that in the 2023-24 financial year alone, the DRI uncovered 623 cases, averaging nearly two per day, resulting in the seizure of contraband worth Rs. 3500 crores. These included narcotics, gold, fake currency and a variety of other illicit goods like cigarettes and wildlife products. Mr. Singh advocated for global cooperation to tackle this menace, highlighting the success of international cooperation efforts giving the example of WCO-led Operation TIN CAN in seizing contraband within legitimate cargo. He praised FICCI CASCADE’s relentless campaign against illicit trade and the seminar for fostering essential dialogue and collaboration. He emphasized the urgent need to involve relevant stakeholders, noting that many DRI investigations reveal troubling infiltration of supply chains and insider involvement.
“It takes a network to defeat a network,” Mr. P K Das, Director of the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate at the World Customs Organisation (WCO), highlighted the WCO’s efforts against illicit trade, including the Illicit Trade Report. He praised Indian Customs’ support, especially through Operation Shesha, a collaboration with Hong Kong Customs and the WCO. Mr. Das highlighted the importance of a networked approach to dismantle illicit networks, calling for coordinated efforts in analysis, interdiction, investigation, prosecution, and penalties. He concluded by promoting trade integrity and commending FICCI for its support to Indian Customs in this fight.
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman of FICCI CASCADE, delivering the welcome address at the seminar, said, “In India, DRI and other enforcement agencies have been playing a significant role in combating illicit trade through increased seizures of illicit products like gold, cigarettes, currency, and cosmetics at airports, seaports, and border points. Today, illicit trade operatives exploit AI to automate smuggling processes and analyze border control data, law enforcement activities, and surveillance patterns. This misuse of technology requires our unabated focus.” “I must emphasize that despite the increase in seizures, these represent only the tip of the iceberg. The problem’s magnitude is significantly higher and continues to grow exponentially. Hence, it is imperative to enhance global cooperation in combating illicit trade. One proposed solution is establishing a ‘Global Forum’ of enforcement agencies worldwide, supported by a dedicated secretariat. FICCI CASCADE stands ready to collaborate with the government and enforcement agencies to develop a comprehensive strategy,” Mr. Rajput added.
“Illicit trade lurks in the underbelly of the economy” Mr. P C Jha, Advisor to FICCI CASCADE and former CBIC Chairman, stressed the need for technology, and international cooperation to combat illicit trade. He noted significant economic impacts and highlighted FICCI CASCADE’s role in promoting responsible behaviour among consumers and youth.
“There are no immediate shortcuts that we can apply but we have to think of the long run and within that structure the short run,” said, Prof. Arun Kumar, Author & Retd. Professor of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He highlighted the extensive reach of illicit trade, linking it to the black economy and black income generation. He stressed the critical role of the international financial system in addressing this issue and identified a corrupt nexus—comprising businessmen, politicians, and executives—as key to perpetuating illicit trade. Prof. Kumar mentioned that combating this, requires political will and accountability at all governance levels. He referenced India’s 1950s development, which focused on resource management to alleviate poverty and illiteracy. Prof. Kumar advocated dismantling the corrupt nexus and called for honesty in implementing technological measures like digitization and cryptocurrency. He also highlighted the importance of social and cultural factors in international collaboration and urged independent regulatory agencies to drive positive privatization.
“Recognizing that a border is more than just a line is crucial in addressing these complex issues of illicit trade and smuggling effectively.” Brigadier Girish Upadhya SM, VSM, DIG- 23rd Sector Assam Rifles briefed on the role of Assam Rifles in ensuring national security and preventing smuggling and illicit trade. He highlighted the challenging terrain of the northeast, noting the difficulties of guarding inaccessible borders with limited resources. Brigadier Girish explained the existence of both legal and numerous illegal crossing points and emphasized the collaboration with stakeholders like Customs and DRI at various checkpoints. Brigadier Girish also discussed the implementation of measures such as biometric checks and regular monitoring to mitigate risks, enhance compliance, and support national security efforts.
Mr. Najib Shah, Former Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and a FICCI CASCADE Think Tank Member, highlighted the increased quantum of seizures, stressing that the visible figures of seizures by Customs are only a fraction of the actual illicit inflow. Mr. Shah raised a crucial point about right holders’ reluctance to engage in the process, possibly due to concerns over credibility or lengthy destruction procedures. He urged the CASCADE committee to address this issue, stressing the necessity for right holders to be actively involved in safeguarding their counterfeited products from being smuggled.
Indian Customs is implementing evolving strategies to combat illicit trade, mentioned Mr. Sanjay Bansal, Commissioner (Import & Exports). He emphasized the use of data analytics to enhance intelligence, enabling the targeted capture of high-risk consignments. Praising platforms like the Economic Intelligence Council, he noted their role in fostering inter-agency collaboration to strengthen investigations. Mr. Bansal spoke about the importance of a multi-agency approach and international partnerships to disrupt illicit financial flows. He detailed the repetitive nature of strategies used by customs, driven by continuous feedback and intelligence sharing, ensuring adaptive responses to evolving threats. His insights depicted proactive measures at India’s borders, safeguarding national security and economic stability amid a complex global trade landscape.
Mr. B. Shanker Jaiswal, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Tech, Cyber & Licensing), Delhi Police highlighted the need of urgency and innovation in combating illicit trade through advanced technology and the need for skilled personnel capable at navigating the dark web and digital transactions. Mr. Jaiswal encouraged for using government databases and employing AI for proactive data mining, enabling law enforcement to anticipate and disrupt illicit activities effectively. His vision of data-driven monitoring reflects future-oriented approach, where AI simplifies precise irregularity detection and targeted investigations. His insights portrayed a forward-thinking strategy, leveraging technology to bridge the gap between current capabilities and the goal of eliminating illicit trade, ensuring robust enforcement in an increasingly digital landscape.
“Educating the public about the dangers associated with smuggling and its consequences is crucial.” Mr. Robin Gupta, Joint Director of the Enforcement Directorate, emphasized the importance of public education in combating smuggling. He noted that increased awareness deters smuggling, especially when combined with severe punishments. Mr. Gupta stressed the need for community engagement and stakeholder involvement, promoting the reporting of suspicious activities and cooperation with law enforcement. He also highlighted the crucial role of artificial intelligence and analytics in predicting and identifying smuggling activities, underscoring their importance in the strategy against illicit trade.
Ms. Sungita Sharma, Former Special Secretary of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, while concluding the seminar, emphasized the urgent need for unified action against illicit trade, highlighting the importance of a networked strategy to disrupt these networks and promote ethical conduct. The discussions stressed the necessity for decisive political leadership, transparent accountability, innovative technological solutions, and collaborative frameworks to enhance border security. These insights offer a roadmap for future efforts, reinforcing our commitment to upholding global commerce integrity and collective prosperity.
The seminar on global illicit trade and the way forward was attended by over 200 industry stakeholders. Insights gleaned from the discussions, underscores the vital role of a networked approach, transparent accountability mechanisms, Global Forum, Resource Management, Consumer Awareness and innovative technological solutions in combating illicit trade. As we navigate the complexities of this challenge, the shared commitment of diverse stakeholders will be pivotal in safeguarding the integrity of global commerce and fostering sustainable prosperity.
Media Coverage -Seminar 20 June 2024Download Pdf
