Irelands national police force An Garda Siochana is joining #TurnBackCrime, INTERPOL’s global public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of organized crime and its impact on everyday life.
While many people know that transnational organized crime networks are behind various forms of trafficking such as illicit goods, fake medicines, drugs, arms and even people, they are often unaware of the links with other seemingly unrelated and varied crimes.
Crimes such as counterfeiting, cybercrime, fraud, crimes against children and corruption in sport are in fact often interconnected, with profits from one crime area used to fund another. This criminal activity puts individuals at risk and can also affect the global economy.
Their health is endangered by poor quality and potentially life-threatening counterfeit products; their financial safety is compromised by attempts to steal their personal data; and children face threats such as online grooming and sexual abuse.
By engaging in INTERPOL’sTurnBackCrime campaign An Garda Síochána is playing our part to help the public better understand these issues and empower them to make informed choices about the products they buy or the way they use the Internet.
Ambassadors for the campaign already include international film star Jackie Chan, former world boxing champion Frank Bruno and footballer Simone Farina, recently named Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympic Games in addition to being a FIFA Ambassador for Fair Play.
Events to mark the campaign roll out will be held in cities around around the world including in Bogota, Dar-es-Salaam, Jakarta, Slovenia’s Port of Koper and Paris.
"Police around the world face and deal with the reality and effects of crime every day,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble
"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 ands empower them to take action.
"Join the campaign. Together, we can turn back crime,” concluded the INTERPOL Chief.
Interpol’s Cabinet Director and Turn Back Crime campaign executive director Roraima Andrianisaid it is a unique opportunity for society to unite in combating crime.
"Law enforcement, the public, governments and business, we each have our role to play to Turn Back Crime.
"Turn Back Crime is our shared opportunity to make the world a safer place,” said Mrs Andriani.
The Turn Back Crime campaign is also reaching out to companies and policy makers in a bid to form a united front against contemporary crime challenges, and to support the ongoing activities of the global law enforcement community.
Visit the Turn Back Crime website, and watch the video ‘Organized crime starts with money, don’t let it be yours’.
Join the campaign:
Website: www.turnbackcrime.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/turnback.crime
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TurnBackCrime
Instagram: http://instagram.com/turnbackcrime
#TogetherWeCan #TurnBackCrime
An Garda Siochana through Its National Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been proactive in the area of tackling the illegal trade in counterfeit goods and clothing.
An investigation codenamed "Operation Camac” was set up in 2011 to target individuals involved in the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit merchandise.
This operation has been successful in seizing large quantities of counterfeit goods and disrupting the activities of criminal groups involved in this activity. Suspects identified have been prosecuted under legislation such as the Trade Marks Act of 1976. A number of those cases are currently before the criminal courts. The following are examples of detections made under Operation Camac:
On 9th December 2011 a search operation by NBCI at three identified locations in County Laois and the three sites identified were searched under warrant pursuant to Section 25, Trade Marks Act, 1996:
As a result of these searches a large amount of garments, (T-shirts, tracksuits, hoodies etc) were located. The estimated sale value of these goods bearing counterfeit markings is estimated to be in excess of €500,000.
A separate search resulted in the seizure of in excess of 2000 designer labels, a printing press and computer along with several hundred completed garments with counterfeit labels attached. The potential sale value of the goods found at this location is estimated at €200,000.
On 27/11/2012 searches by the Intellectual Property Crime Unit (I.P.C.U.), National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (N.B.C.I.) was conducted at three (3) locations in County Dublin. These searches were also conducted as part of Operation Camac.
While conducting these searches it was discovered that two storage containers had been converted and were being used as a workshop for the purpose of making counterfeit clothes. A large quantity of counterfeit clothing was discovered in the workshop upon entry. The counterfeit clothing found was the same or similar in style to Registered Trade Marks registered by high value label companies.
Also found in the workshop was a quantity of plain/unbranded clothes. These clothes were similar to the finished, counterfeit clothes found but simply hadn’t been branded/labelled yet. A large quantity of counterfeit labels the same or similar to the Registered Trade Marks was also found. Such labels are commonly used by counterfeiters who attach them to the plain/unbranded clothes to produce counterfeit clothes.
All of the above counterfeit merchandise was seized as evidence. Two males were arrested one of which is currently awaiting trial before the criminal courts. The other male is currently at large.
Buying false or pirated goods funds organised crime and profits obtained by criminals engaged in counterfeiting will then be used in other forms of criminality such as people trafficking, child labour and drug dealing. People need to be conscious of this when offered what they might perceive to be a good bargain. Counterfeit goods are invariably of poor quality for example counterfeit medicines can pose significant health risks. There are no controls over how these goods are manufactured so we encourage people to only purchase items from legitimate retailers.
