Seizures and discoveries include in the UK, around £3 million worth of assorted counterfeit goods being impounded from a factory... Also in the UK, two separate seizures of counterfeit cigarettes took place, yielding nine million and seven million units... In Kenya, counterfeit and expired pharmaceuticals were seized by the Pharmacy and Poison Board... In the USA, counterfeit luxury goods were seized in two different raids yielding $200,000 and $5.1 million worth of goods... Large seizures of pirated DVDs took place in Australia, Kuwait and Malaysia.

Cases and outcomes include in the UK, the sentencing of four men involved in the largest DVD piracy ring in the country; the men made an estimated £7 million from the illicit trade and were given a total of 18 years in jail... In the USA, a student who admitted to illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs was ordered to pay $675,000 to four record companies... Also in the USA, four people were sentenced for their roles in a $200 million smuggling ring bringing counterfeit goods into the country.

Policy developments include in India, the government is offering rewards to whistle blowers who inform and help seize spurious, adulterated and misbranded drugs to tackle the problem of counterfeit pharmaceuticals... In the UK, the high court has ruled that customs authorities do not have the power to seize goods transiting the UK, even if they know they are counterfeit.

Case study database
News Archive