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THE PUBLIC IS being warned not to buy counterfeit goods, as police forces across the world crack down on intellectual property crime.
Gardaí and Interpol have launched the “Turn Back Crime” initiative, which aims to fight counterfeiting and organised crime.
The forces are warning that counterfeit goods are all linked back to organised crime.
Yearly, counterfeit tobacco alone costs the Exchequer €250 million in lost revenue, with the industry losing around double that.
Gardaí are reluctant to put a cost on the counterfeiting trade, but Detective Superintendent George Kyne of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations says that it’s not just alcohol.
“We have cases with counterfeit clothing and tobacco, but we also have had problems with alcohol being rebottled and sold on.
“We’re working with the gas industry because of a growing trend in illegal gas bottling, as well.”
He added that people are purchasing counterfeit medicines, something he warned strongly against.
Superintendent Kyne says that his bureau deals with everything from wide-scale rings to market stalls. He says, however that it all flows back to international organised crime gangs.
“We’re telling people that if the price seems too low, don’t buy it.”
A number of Garda operations have seen up to half a million euro worth of goods seized in recent years.
Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble called on the public to join the campaign.
“Police around the world face and deal with the reality and effects of crime every day.
“Through the Turn Back Crime campaign, Interpol and law enforcement across the globe are looking to engage the public, to make them aware of the very real affects organized crime has on individuals’ lives and empower them to take action.
“Join the campaign. Together, we can turn back crime,” concluded the Interpol Chief.
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There are well known markets which operate up and down the country which sell nothing but stolen and counterfeit goods! The Gardai cannot claim they are trying to stop counterfeit sales while these markets still operate freely!
I’m all for cracking down on dodgy medicines and alcohol as they are a threat to health.
However, I’m yet to be convinced that our police force should be working to protect the profits of sports wear companies that make their fortunes from running sweat shops at the other side of the world, and marketing them at adolescents to the point where they feel they have to own them just to “fit in”.
I’m not going to get into that because I’m probably 100% in agreement but I think it’s an entire subculture that you either try and eradicate or you just accept it completely! Picking and choosing sends mixed messages.
Hello Neal,
Very well put!
In my view, these top clothing brands would have a better chance of not being counterfeited if each was associated with specific high street stores, like the way Criminal brand is exclusive to House of Fraser.
True Ted, that would be a mixed message. The new message would be along these lines: That the safeguarding of health and social well being is a priority in our society.
This would justify both a crackdown on dangerous medicines and alcohol, and a refusal to protect the interests of those who use slave labour and those who seek to profit by pouring millions into marketing that takes advantage of adolescents’ hormones.
I’m not a marketing person myself so I’m sure someone with more talent than me could make the new message clearer.
Meant to add:
I know the counterfeit stuff is often made in sweat shops too, with even less regulation than the “legitimate” ones. However, they only exist because
(1) There is something to counterfeit
(2) The original item has soo much brand-value in the eyes of the customer, thanks to cynical marketing.
Okay Neal I’m fully supportive now. Where do you download the forms to create a new quango till we get the ball rolling on this one. As long as the police stop investigating these issues we can claim massive drops in the level of counterfeiting.
Ted, the best know market of them all is balbriggan and the Gardai have tried everything to close it down. Planning permission has been given and thats that. Every Sunday gardai are there and property taken and people charged. Nothing more they can do
Neal. It’s not just about sports wear or big brand companies making their fortunes off the backs of underpaid people is it !
However unconvinced you are ” that our police force should be working to protect the profits of sports wear companies …” etc. , you could convince yourself that knowingly buying ‘counterfeit’ products is condoning criminal activity. You could be convinced by the knowledge that supporting criminals means turning a blind eye to crime that effects people right on your doorstep.You should have some inkling into what kind of stuff criminals do and that should convince you.
The little I know of criminals is that they do more than run “sweat shops” . They use violence, extortion, murder, human trafficking etc etc . There is no quality control. There is no health and safety control. There is no money back guarantee. There is no insurance. There is no fair wage. There is no workers rights. The list goes on.
There is no such thing as an ‘ordinary decent criminal’ (trying to make a living) And, there is no such thing as modern day Robbin Hoods!
Buying counterfeit is not just a kick in the teeth to the billion (Dollar) companies. It is a ‘knife in the back’ to everyone from ‘you’re man’ down the road, selling cheep goods out of the back of his van!
I have seen guardrail driving around ballbriggan market while counterfeit goods were being openly sold
If the Gardaí were really doing their job, they’d be no Christmas market on Henry street, cos the whole thing should be called ‘Overpriced Fakes For All’ Oh, and on the corner of the Ilac…those designer bags;)
The companies who produce genuine products do so by exploiting workers in third world countries to work like slaves in deplorable conditions for pittance. Just as bad as the people who produce fake goods.. In my opinion!
Absolutely agreed Caroline. Sure I was in Thailand a few years ago and the lads selling T-Shirts on the streets were selling them for about €3 and were openly admitting that they were 100% fake but they were made in the same factories and they were still making money at that price! Crazy stuff when you can pay €40 for the same things here due to monstrous management and marketing costs.
“Same same, but different” :)
What about counterfeit Christianity…..The pope, the Catholic Church and all that..
And I forgot to mention transubstanciation
Purchased antibiotics in Spain last week and hydrocortisone cream for my children’s eczema and I paid less than hald the price than in Ireland, same brand, non generic, same maker, same dose and quantity. These medications weren’t manufactured neither in Spain nor in Ireland, its imported.
Maybe the Garda should also mention that if you’re paying that much for medication is because you are being ripped off!
“counterfeit tobacco” what the hell is that?
Headline translation: If you’re not being ripped off, it must be fake!
Maybe if people in Eastern Europe and the “Developing World” (God I hate that racist term) were paid decent wages for their work, there wouldn’t be any black market.
Did you know an average monthly salary in the Baltics is around 200 euros? That’s for full time work, not laying around on the dole. The rest of our expanded EU countries are no better. Cost of living in those countries about the same as in Ireland and people need to do semi-legal/illegal activities just to stay alive and feed their kids. Prostitution is thriving everywhere except Ireland right now because for a lot of women it’s the only way to make ends meet.
Maybe if we demanded an EU wide minimum wage law, we could make a big difference. If people charge high prices, they can pay high wages. Period.
Absolutely. Sinn Fein have spoke about this for years. Thank god the guards listened and are now working to put an end to it.
Shouldn’t you be building a swimming pool or something?
A chara. Less of the personal attacks please.
Well i didn’t think you are doing the second fixes yourself so hardly a personal attack
Yeah they know nothing about smuggled dodgy goods themselves, right.
with the price of medicine generic better. about clothes mostly track suits wouldn’t be seen dead. about cops get a life and fight corruption not handbags
Two for 10 euro boss…
So you are suggesting that the gardai should ignore certain crimes? A crime is a crime, whether you consider it to be or not. The gardai are tasked with not differentiating. If it’s against the law, they enforce the law. And before anyone starts the corrupt gardai nonsense, this is what the other 99% + do.
‘if the price is too low you’re not being ripped off by the govt or a large corporation so dont buy it ‘ OK i believe you. No reason you would lie to me.
Sinn fein talking about what?… its widely known a lot of proceeds from counterfeit goods has gone towards funding terrorism
have your say