Malta intelligence leads to Livorno cigarettes haul
A recent haul of nine million counterfeit cigarettes in the Italian port of Livorno was the result of intelligence by the Maltese Customs, the Customs Department said today.
It explained that last November, Customs officers inspected a container at Malta Freeport whose cargo was declared as being cigarettes.
It resulted that the first cartons near the container door were genuine cigarettes, albeit made some nine years ago. The rest of the container, however, was loaded with some nine million counterfeit cigarettes. The consignment was seized.
Investigations revealed that a similar consignment may be on its way to Livorno, and Malta Customs therefore notified the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in December.
This information turned out to be vital for the interception of the container-load of cigarettes in Livorno, which was given prominence by the Italian media. The Livorno container was similarly loaded with genuine cigarettes on the front, and counterfeit cigarettes inside.
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Guze Xerri
Jan 15th 2009, 22:46
@ Peter Briffa,
"Shouldn't the Maltese Intelligence services focus on one of the most pressing problems hitting Malta (illegal trafficking of human beings) rather than getting too bogged down with the problems of other countries?"
that will be too logical.
which should tell us there is more than meets the eye.
some powerful entity wants these illegal invaders here and in the rest of the EU, the politicians are in on this secret but the common citizen is not told that.
M.Briffa
Jan 15th 2009, 19:34
EXCELLENT work by all Customs personnel involved in this case.
' I strive against opposition ' is the Customs motto.
WELL DONE and KEEP IT UP.
lgalea
Jan 15th 2009, 14:55
Joe Vassallo
You should know that WE are paying the customs officers to collect customs duty and levies which instead of going into the Maltese coffer all go to the eu whereas previously they all went into the Maltese coffer.
We pay the collectors and the eu gets the money.
And this is besides the €154,000 that we are sending daily to the eu as the government (read from OUR taxes) contribution, part of VAT, losses from the Central Bank foreign deposits which were sent to the eu European Central Bank to earn interests on them instead of us, the loss of the Italian Protocol, etc... etc...
These are some other negative aspects of eu membership.
Bernard Mamo
Jan 15th 2009, 13:35
Destination : Panama
http://lanazione.ilsole24ore.com/livorno/2009/01/13/144082-sigarette_false_scadute_maxisequestro.shtml
Joe Vassallo
Jan 15th 2009, 09:54
Unfortunately the report does not indicate whether the final destination of the containers was Malta (domestic import) or whether they were only transiting through Freeport on their way to another destination (transhipment).
If it was the former, then Customs deserves a pat on the back, but if these containers were on their way to a third country, then why is Customs dedicating effort and energy on such cases? Why not alert the authorities at the country of destination and let them decide how to follow up with intelligence and investigations?
Customs should focus on what is going on in Malta and concentrate their resources on helping in the war against drugs, and against counterfeit goods on the Maltese market.
If the EU wants us to act as border control then they should provide the Maltese Government with funds for more Customs personnel to be employed and hence ensure that there are adequate resources (human and financial) to give priority to our needs.
Peter Briffa
Jan 15th 2009, 09:33
Shouldn't the Maltese Intelligence services focus on one of the most pressing problems hitting Malta (illegal trafficking of human beings) rather than getting too bogged down with the problems of other countries?
It is good to help stop smuggling in cigarettes and alcohol in neighbouring countries, but we are having thousands of illegal immigrants smuggled into Maltese territories (at a great cost to worn out taxpayers) and as far as I know, there still hasn't been a single arrest or anyone charged with smuggling human beings illegally into Maltese territory. Can we get our priorities right? Are the powers that be turning a blind eye? Surely, tracking down people smugglers does not involve rocket science?
Does the government sanction illegal immigrant smugglers?
David Muscat
Jan 15th 2009, 09:22
@ e. bonello Replicas are not counterfeit.
edmond bonello
Jan 15th 2009, 09:12
Well done. Clearly it seems, that Malta is against counterfit goods.
Still, in Malta insurances will sell you counterfit parts for your car and that is approved.