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No Apologies For The 'Smugglus Interruptus'
It was past midnight at 12.30am on 18 Feb 2004. While most Singaporeans were sleeping soundly and safely in bed at midnight, our Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the checkpoints remained vigilant, ready to thwart all attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, cargoes and contraband. A 29-year old Malaysian Indian driver and his 25-year old co-driver obviously did not know this, or else they would not have tried to smuggle in 9,600 pieces of uncensored and obscene DVDs through Tuas Checkpoint.
2 At the Cargo Arrival Complex at Tuas Checkpoint, the two Malaysian drivers of a bonded truck produced seven transhipment permits, four for a consignment of books, clothing and stationery, and another three for a consignment of audioparts, motorcycle parts and pneumatic clamps with parts. Our officers did a check on some of the cartons in the truck and found one of them to contain five spools of DVDs suspected to be obscene. The drivers were immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
3 A thorough search of the remaining cartons uncovered 4,000 DVDs suspected to be obscene, 5,600 DVDs suspected to be uncensored and 1 carton of obscene labels for the DVDs. The value of the 9,600 pieces of DVDs is estimated to have a street value of about S$57,600/- and the GST involved amounted to $2,880/-. This is the largest haul of DVDs detected by ICA officers at the checkpoints for this year. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
4 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
5 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. Our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders. We would like to warn the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
18 Feb 2004
2 At the Cargo Arrival Complex at Tuas Checkpoint, the two Malaysian drivers of a bonded truck produced seven transhipment permits, four for a consignment of books, clothing and stationery, and another three for a consignment of audioparts, motorcycle parts and pneumatic clamps with parts. Our officers did a check on some of the cartons in the truck and found one of them to contain five spools of DVDs suspected to be obscene. The drivers were immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
3 A thorough search of the remaining cartons uncovered 4,000 DVDs suspected to be obscene, 5,600 DVDs suspected to be uncensored and 1 carton of obscene labels for the DVDs. The value of the 9,600 pieces of DVDs is estimated to have a street value of about S$57,600/- and the GST involved amounted to $2,880/-. This is the largest haul of DVDs detected by ICA officers at the checkpoints for this year. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
4 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
5 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. Our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders. We would like to warn the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
18 Feb 2004