Dubai Customs seizes and recycles counterfeit goods worth Dh1 million


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Customs officials in Dubai recycled counterfeit products worth an estimated Dh1 million ($272,000).

More than 134,000 items from 42 fake brands were seized, including designer bags, watches, gloves, glasses and car parts, authorities said.

The counterfeit goods were recycled in the presence of representatives from the US, Germany, Japan and the UK. The products were copies of popular brands from these countries.

“Recycling counterfeit goods is a great option for brand owners. It protects their rights and prevents any illegitimate competition,” said Yousef Ozair Mubarak, director of the Intellectual Property Rights Department.

Mr Mubarak said the confiscated goods were disposed of in an eco-friendly way.

“Recycling allows us to convert unusable counterfeit goods into valuable commodities while protecting the environment. It reduces landfill waste and carbon dioxide emissions associated with incineration,” he said.

“Our priority is to prevent the entry of these goods into the country, and for this we work closely with the diplomatic missions and brand owners to protect intellectual property rights and investors’ interests.”

In March, authorities recovered almost 16,000 illegal or fake tobacco products and shisha oils worth Dh1.5 million.

Smuggling fake car parts is another hot area for bootleggers. More than 300,000 bogus filters, spark plugs and other engine parts were seized by officials in 2020.

Over the past few years, the UAE has intensified inspection campaigns and is using blockchain technology to prevent fraud and counterfeiting.

The UAE also signed several international treaties for the protection of copyright work, including the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property agreement.

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Name: Younis Al Balooshi

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn

Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

Scores

Day 2

New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227

New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

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if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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