Anti-smuggling – Global Operations
SECRETARY General of the WCO , Kunio Mikuriya says, “Using postal and express courier channels to move tens of thousands of counterfeit and pirated goods around the world is increasingly being exploited by criminal traders.”
Recently the World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted Operation Global Hoax aimed to stem the growing trade and stop the economic saboteurs from using postal and courier channels to move their illegal goods around the world. More than 782 parcels were seized, yielding in excess of 142,000 DVDs and 28,000 CDs.
Customs also seized over 271,000 other counterfeit items, including razors, pharmaceuticals, curling irons, household goods, watches, mobile phones and accessories, clothing, computer accessories, jewellery, video game gadgets, MP3/ MP4 players, and leather goods.
Some Customs administrations went even further; raiding street markets selling counterfeit and pirated goods, either on their own or in collaboration with other enforcement agencies. These informal markets have become a common point of sale for counterfeiters with a veritable “supermarket” of illegal goods available including pyramids of DVDs and CDS.
Global Hoax was coordinated by the WCO who facilitated the sharing of information and made available CENcomm – its secure communication tool – to participating administrations for exchanging data on pirated and counterfeit products seized.