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Counterfeiting and piracy harm society in many ways that are not easily understood. For example, counterfeiting provides organised crime a high gain-low risk enterprise for generating large revenues to continue their illegal activities.
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This page is a special summary of cases that reveal where counterfeiting and piracy have real links to organised crime. Each reference has been extracted directly from a story archived in the BASCAP Case Study Database. For further research, the full article can be found by clicking on the associated endnote.
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Counterfeit gang funded Italian organised crime - USA, 1 August 2008
- American authorities have alleged that a band of criminals sent from Italy by the Naples equivalent of the Sicilian Mafia ran a counterfeiting ring in the tri-state area ( New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) that sold knock-off clothing and electronics; 789
DVD gang arrested - Italy, 1 July 2008
- Police have arrested 12 members of an organised criminal gang involved in the distribution of pirate CDs and DVDs. The arrests, which took place in Naples and Milan, followed several months of investigation; 782
Government officials behind fake cigarette smuggling - Moldova, 1 June 2008
- ...a coalition of investigative reporters from EU member states and other European countries, has documented the organised crime business of tobacco smuggling, and particularly the involvement of government officials in the region; 784
Document forgery linked to Tamil Tigers - Sri Lanka, 1 June 2008
The hidden danger behind counterfeit DVD gangs - UK, 26 April 2008
Link shown between counterfeiting and terrorism - 12 March 2008
- The high profit and low risk nature of counterfeiting has attracted terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda who view it is an easy way to amass funds; 770
Counterfeit cigarettes fund sex trade - UK, 5 March 2008
- Organised Crime factions in Scotland are using the counterfeit cigarette trade to finance other, more sinister crimes; 766
Organised piracy suspected - 1 March 2008
- It is believed that big international syndicates are involved in supplying the pirated materials into the country; 760
Georgia acts on cigarette tax stamp counterfeiting - 1 March 2008
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The move follows concerns that Georgia is losing over $20 million annually from cigarette smuggling and tax evasion, and that fake cigarettes fund terrorism; 761
Polish authorities tackle organised crime – Poland, 2 February 2008
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Also seized were firearms, counterfeit cigarettes and a large amount of cash; again highlighting the link between digital counterfeiting and organised crime; 756
Counterfeit drug lab raided in Quebec – Canada, 27 January 2008
- Police have seized a massive quantity of narcotics and counterfeit drugs at an illegal pharmaceutical laboratory in Quebec; 755
3 Arrested in one of the largest counterfeit prosecutions in US history – USA, 25 January 2008
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have uncovered an organised crime syndicate running a massive fake luxury goods operation, touted as the biggest in US history; 753
Drug barons drawn to counterfeiting – Tanzania, 3 January 2008
- Tanzanian drug barons are increasingly turning to the counterfeit goods market after authorities introduced strict measures designed to prevent drug trafficking; 746
Report links counterfeit sales to JeM terrorist funding – UK, 1 January 2008
- The sale of fake CDs, DVDs, clothing and perfumes in British cities is helping to raise money for one of the world’s most-notorious terror outfits according to a recent news report; 723
Organised crime controls counterfeiting says UN – 1 January 2008
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Counterfeiting has been described as a dangerous and growing enterprise controlled by organised criminals in a new UN report released last month; 719
Officials smash $200m counterfeit smuggling ring - USA, 1 January 2008
- US Federal officials seized $200 million in fake goods and broke up what they called one of the largest-ever counterfeit smuggling rings for apparel, shoes and accessories last month. Ten people were arrested; 720
Christine Levinson plans to visit Iran with hope of finding her husband – Iran, 18 December 2007
- Robert Levinson has been missing since March 2007 after travelling to the Iranian resort Kish from Dubai to investigate cigarette counterfeiting and smuggling; 743
Fake university degrees could aid terrorism – USA, 15 December 2007
- Foreign terrorists and illegal immigrants may have been able to take advantage of loopholes in federal immigration and visa laws thanks to the increase in fraudulent university degrees obtained via the internet; 740
Microsoft takes action against Chinese counterfeiting syndicate – 14 December 2007
- With the help of the FBI, Microsoft instigated a global operation to close down the illegitimate operations in order to protect software consumers around the world; 741
Cases highlight counterfeiting links to terrorists – USA, 1 December 2007
- Federal authorities who earlier in the year busted a multimillion dollar international counterfeit clothing ring based in New York City now say that at least three of those arrested have definitive ties to the terrorist organization Jamaat ul Fuqra and its front group, the Muslims of the Americas; 691.
Akunyili identifies Nigerian ‘mafia’ obstructing NAFDACs anti-counterfeiting work – 1 December 2007
- Dora Akunyili, Director General of the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has accused some powerful Nigerians and companies of involvement in the counterfeiting and importation of fake drugs; 693.
12 arrested at LAX for counterfeiting, drug trafficking and money laundering - USA, 13 November 2007
- A two year counter-terrorism and drug investigation came to a head after Ali Khalil Elreda and 11 other were arrested at Los Angeles airport; 735
Fake CDs sold in markets funded human trafficking – 1 November 2007
- A BBC undercover team that spent a year investigating the Chinese counterfeiting trade in Britain has discovered that fake DVDs sold at markets in Kent are helping to fund illegal immigration and people smuggling; 673.
Panama’s black economy funds terror – 9 October 2007
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US authorities claim that the profits from this directly fund Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah among other terror organisations; 728
Canadian citizens suspected of funding terrorism – 23 September 2007
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A Canadian man living in Detroit has pleaded guilty to funding terrorist organisations through the smuggling and selling of cheap cigarettes and fake Viagra; 727
Interpol Secretary General speaks out against piracy – 13 September 2007
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Ronald K. Noble the secretary general of Interpol, in a speech to the House of Representatives, spoke of the lesser known link between the trade in counterfeit goods and international terrorism; 725
Gang produced aircraft parts – 1 September 2007
- Experts say the sale of such counterfeit products presents a serious threat for air passengers. Passenger plane accidents in Russia and other CIS countries last year resulted in 412 deaths - or 56% of the total number of people killed in air crashes world-wide ; 676.
Dangerous fake cigarettes in the UK - UK, 31 August 2007
- The counterfeit cigarettes contain higher levels of tar, arsenic, nicotine and other carcinogens; 716
Organised criminals fined for piracy – Japan, 31 July 2007
- Three Japanese counterfeiters have been fined almost $400,000 after a Japanese court sentenced them under laws usually reserved for Japan’s organised crime syndicate the Yakuza; 709
Italian organised crime linked to piracy – Italy, 28 July 2007
- 2,000 counterfeit CD’s and DVD’s were seized along with guns, ammunition and bomb making equipment; 708
Fake drugs production run by sophisticated Chinese gangs – 5 June 2007
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An Interpol investigator described them as businessmen with sophisticated networks of conspirators; 700
Euro forgers caught – 1 March 2007
- Police last month arrested the members of an international criminal group involved in forging and distributing Euros; 643.
Hong Kong Triad syndicate busted for DVD piracy – China, 26 February 2007
- More than a year long operation into an organised crime ring pirating DVD’s, culminated in a massive anti-piracy operation last week in which 20 raids across Hong Kong were conducted; 651.
Fake cosmetics fund terrorism – 1 December 2006
- World Customs Organization estimates that 70% to 80% of Asia Pacific counterfeiting profits are used to finance organised crime and terror groups; 625.
Threat of terrorism graver due to cartel – USA, 2 July 2006
- Fraudulent documents produced by the families include Social Security cards, driver's licenses, passports, hazardous-materials licenses, utility bills and a variety of other forms of identification. To one degree or another, all can be used to board aircraft, transport dangerous materials, earn employment at secure government facilities, and otherwise help illegal immigrants blend into the fabric of U.S. life; 515.
Proving the Connection – 1 January 2006
- Links between intellectual property theft and organised crime. A report published by the Alliance against Intellectual property theft about the global nature of IP crimes.; 463.
Spain Arrests Eight for Aiding 9/11 Terrorists through counterfeiting – Spain, 1 February 2005
- Eight people have been indicted on terrorism charges by a Spanish judge and stand accused of providing false ID documents and giving logistical help to those suspected of carrying out the September 11 attacks; 175.
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) WHITE PAPER - January 2005
- The negative consquences of international intellectual property theft:
Economic harm, threats to the public health and safety, and links to organised crime and terrorist organisations; 532.
Counterfeiting and Gang Warfare – Italy, 1 January 2005
- Cash derived from the sale of the fake jackets in Canada was actually funding the street warfare in Naples. Also there is a growing body of evidence to indicate that counterfeiting is fast becoming the preferred means of revenue generation by organised criminals and terrorists; 187.
Counterfeit ID Ring in Portugal May Have Supplied Madrid Bombers – Spain, 1 January 2005
- Portuguese police believe they have uncovered a major ID counterfeiting ring that sold Portuguese passports to at least two suspects of the train bombings in Madrid, Spain, in March 2004 that left 191 people dead; 199.
Music Piracy - Serious, Violent and Organised Crime: An IFPI report – 1 January 2005
- Report by the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI) outlining many case studies demonstrating the connection between music piracy and other crimes, such as people trafficking, money laundering, violence, drug smuggling and terrorism; 464.
Revealing the true face of DVD piracy - 1 January 2005
- A collection of case studies and general information compiled by the Industry Trust for IP Awareness ; 508.
9/11 Commission Report Reveals Sophisticated Al Qaeda Passport Forgery Operation – USA, 1 August 2004
- Evasive methods used by terrorists include altered and counterfeit passports and visas; 245.
Further Ammunition in the Link Between Piracy and Organised Crime – UK, 1 August 2004
- Many examples proving the link between Organised Crime and piracy; 253.
Counterfeiting and Terrorism - The New Frontier – 1 May 2004
- The suspects had access to a
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