Illicit Flows And Trafficking Southern Europe-Maghreb
Appendix 2 : The Arab Persian Gulf , Smuggling and Counterfeits
There is significant presence of counterfeit goods in the countries of the Arab Persian Gulf and particularly in the UAE . There are two reasons for this :
• It involves a society of rather well to do , even rich , consumers .
• On a geopolitical scale , the region is the only equidistant hub of Asia , Black Africa , and Europe ; it is very close to the Middle East . In fact , the European Union notes that the UAE is often used for the transit of many shipments of counterfeit goods from Asia . In the UAE itself , with the exception of the stricter Emirate of Abu-Dhabi , the following counterfeit goods are readily available :
Tobacco
Due to careful surveillance , counterfeit cigarettes are rare on the spot , but circulate massively through the free zones , especially from the small Emirates in the north , from Asia to the Black Sea or Europe ( via seaway ).
Industry Fake refrigerators , fans or air conditioners , fake computers and printers , car batteries , chargers or batteries for telephones or computers , neon tubes , vehicle parts ; fake accessories , parts , and consumables ( ink cartridges ), car parts , cooling cylinders ( used in refrigerators and air conditioners ).
Pharmacy and parapharmacy , cosmetics , and herbalism Fake Viagra , Cialis , Levitra , Suprax ( antibiotic ), Olay creams , body lotions , shampoos , soaps , slimming products , etc .
Luxury Watches of various brands and origins , handbags , suitcases , sunglasses , perfumes , clothing from about twenty known brands .
Electronics Cell phones ( so well made that it is almost impossible to distinguish them from the real thing ), hands-free kits , fake headsets , etc .
Food Saffron packets , chocolate bars , soft drinks . Sportswear Clothing , sports gloves , etc .
1 - Wiley Online Library - 10 / 05 / 2018 " Global statistics on alcohol , tobacco and illicit drug use - 2017 "
2 - Mme Hanan BENYAGOUB - Mai 2018 Etude de synthèse - " Commerce transfrontalier et insécurité en Afrique du Nord : le cas de la localité de ben Gardane en Tunisie "
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