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Sex, 'Lies', Videotapes... and More
The Parcel Post Section (PPS) of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) seems like the unlikeliest place to stage Singapore's version of the movie 'Sex, Lies and Videotapes', but it happened on 8 Aug 2003. One copy of pornographic publication (the 'sex'), one piece of gun replica (the 'lies') and 20 pieces of VCDs/DVDs (and the 'videotapes') were found in a parcel by ICA officers at the PPS, while performing routine x-ray screening on in-coming parcels. The parcel, which had arrived by air from Thailand was falsely declared as 'Trading and Food samples'. The case was subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation.
2 The PPS is responsible for checks on inbound parcels and mails to ensure that no controlled or prohibited items are brought into Singapore. Our ICA officers conduct 100% checks on the parcels and mails using x-ray scanners. The PPS is part of the Air Cargo Command of ICA, which includes the Changi Airfreight Centre (CAC), Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS) and Seletar Airport. The CAC and ALPS are responsible for the clearance of cargoes imported and exported by air through these two checkpoints. At Seletar Airport, ICA officers are responsible for the clearance of passengers and cargoes coming into and going out of Singapore. Collectively, Air Cargo Command is responsible for the security of Singapore's borders against the entry of undesirable cargoes, parcels and passengers through the Air Cargo Command checkpoints.
3 In the last 3 months (Jul to Sep 2003), Air Cargo Command detected 116 cases of contraband or illegal goods being imported into Singapore. The cases detected include the unauthorised importation of offensive weapons and obscene items. All the cases detected were referred to the relevant authorities for further investigations. The following are some of the cases that were detected by ICA officers at the Air Cargo Command Checkpoints. These cases were subsequently referred to Police for further investigation.
Case 1
4 On 26 Jul 2003, a consignment declared as unbranded lighters was produced for inspection at the CAC. Upon examination, our ICA officers found 20 pieces of rifle-shaped lighters.
Case 2
5 On 31 Jul 2003, a parcel containing 264 pieces of sex toys were seized. The parcel, falsely declared as 'plastics products' were addressed to a 35 year-old female Singaporean.
Case 3
6 On 10 Sep 2003, while performing x-ray screening on incoming parcels at PPS, ICA officers found not one, but two parcels declared as toy parts to contain gun replicas and accessories. The first parcel was found to contain 13 pieces of gun replicas and five pieces of gun accessories, while the second parcel contained two pieces of gun replicas and 32 pieces of gun accessories. The two parcels were addressed to two different persons.
Case 4
7 On 16 Sep 2003, a representative of a freight forwarding company produced a consignment declared as "personal effects" for transshipment to Jakarta, Indonesia. An alert ICA officer on duty at the CAC at found the consignment suspicious and when the consignment was opened up for further examination inspection, one piece of stun-gun with cover was found.
8 Under Registration of Import & Export Regulations (Cap 272A), it is an offence to import prohibited items and also controlled items without an import license or authorization from the relevant controlling authority. The offender is liable to a fine up to S$100,000/- or three times the value of the goods, whichever is greater, and/or to a jail term up to two years. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine up to S$200,000/- or four times the value of the goods, whichever is greater, and/or to a jail term up to three years. Some of the other offences related to the importation of prohibited and controlled items can be found in the Annex.
9 ICA would like to advise the public against importation of unlawful goods into Singapore because if they try, they are unlikely to succeed against our experienced ICA officers who have a trained eye for detecting incoming unlawful goods and conduct 100% checks on arriving parcels with the help of equipment such as x-ray scanners. Certain items like air guns, bulletproof vests are controlled items and would require a license from the Licensing Division in Police before they can be imported into Singapore. Gun replicas, if fallen to the wrong hands, can be as dangerous as the real thing as they can be used for criminal purposes. If members of public are unsure of the requirements, they may visit ICA website at http://www.ica.gov.sg under 'Travellers Info Guide' for more information to avoid running afoul of the law.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
29 Oct 2003
Annex
Undesirable Publication Act (Cap 338)
Under the Undesirable Publication Act (Cap 338), it is an offence to import any obscene or objectionable publication knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the publication to be obscene or objectionable. Anyone found guilty of this offence is liable to a fine up to S$10,000 and/or jail term of up to two years.
Arms & Explosives Act (Cap 13)
Under the Arms & Explosives Act (Cap 13), it is an offence to import unlawfully or without a licence, any guns, arms, explosives or poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance. Anyone found guilty of this offence is liable to a fine up to S$5,000 and/or jail term of up to three years.
2 The PPS is responsible for checks on inbound parcels and mails to ensure that no controlled or prohibited items are brought into Singapore. Our ICA officers conduct 100% checks on the parcels and mails using x-ray scanners. The PPS is part of the Air Cargo Command of ICA, which includes the Changi Airfreight Centre (CAC), Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS) and Seletar Airport. The CAC and ALPS are responsible for the clearance of cargoes imported and exported by air through these two checkpoints. At Seletar Airport, ICA officers are responsible for the clearance of passengers and cargoes coming into and going out of Singapore. Collectively, Air Cargo Command is responsible for the security of Singapore's borders against the entry of undesirable cargoes, parcels and passengers through the Air Cargo Command checkpoints.
3 In the last 3 months (Jul to Sep 2003), Air Cargo Command detected 116 cases of contraband or illegal goods being imported into Singapore. The cases detected include the unauthorised importation of offensive weapons and obscene items. All the cases detected were referred to the relevant authorities for further investigations. The following are some of the cases that were detected by ICA officers at the Air Cargo Command Checkpoints. These cases were subsequently referred to Police for further investigation.
Case 1
4 On 26 Jul 2003, a consignment declared as unbranded lighters was produced for inspection at the CAC. Upon examination, our ICA officers found 20 pieces of rifle-shaped lighters.
Case 2
5 On 31 Jul 2003, a parcel containing 264 pieces of sex toys were seized. The parcel, falsely declared as 'plastics products' were addressed to a 35 year-old female Singaporean.
Case 3
6 On 10 Sep 2003, while performing x-ray screening on incoming parcels at PPS, ICA officers found not one, but two parcels declared as toy parts to contain gun replicas and accessories. The first parcel was found to contain 13 pieces of gun replicas and five pieces of gun accessories, while the second parcel contained two pieces of gun replicas and 32 pieces of gun accessories. The two parcels were addressed to two different persons.
Case 4
7 On 16 Sep 2003, a representative of a freight forwarding company produced a consignment declared as "personal effects" for transshipment to Jakarta, Indonesia. An alert ICA officer on duty at the CAC at found the consignment suspicious and when the consignment was opened up for further examination inspection, one piece of stun-gun with cover was found.
8 Under Registration of Import & Export Regulations (Cap 272A), it is an offence to import prohibited items and also controlled items without an import license or authorization from the relevant controlling authority. The offender is liable to a fine up to S$100,000/- or three times the value of the goods, whichever is greater, and/or to a jail term up to two years. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine up to S$200,000/- or four times the value of the goods, whichever is greater, and/or to a jail term up to three years. Some of the other offences related to the importation of prohibited and controlled items can be found in the Annex.
9 ICA would like to advise the public against importation of unlawful goods into Singapore because if they try, they are unlikely to succeed against our experienced ICA officers who have a trained eye for detecting incoming unlawful goods and conduct 100% checks on arriving parcels with the help of equipment such as x-ray scanners. Certain items like air guns, bulletproof vests are controlled items and would require a license from the Licensing Division in Police before they can be imported into Singapore. Gun replicas, if fallen to the wrong hands, can be as dangerous as the real thing as they can be used for criminal purposes. If members of public are unsure of the requirements, they may visit ICA website at http://www.ica.gov.sg under 'Travellers Info Guide' for more information to avoid running afoul of the law.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
29 Oct 2003
Annex
Undesirable Publication Act (Cap 338)
Under the Undesirable Publication Act (Cap 338), it is an offence to import any obscene or objectionable publication knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the publication to be obscene or objectionable. Anyone found guilty of this offence is liable to a fine up to S$10,000 and/or jail term of up to two years.
Arms & Explosives Act (Cap 13)
Under the Arms & Explosives Act (Cap 13), it is an offence to import unlawfully or without a licence, any guns, arms, explosives or poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance. Anyone found guilty of this offence is liable to a fine up to S$5,000 and/or jail term of up to three years.