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Before You Try to Smuggle VCDs in, Consider our 'VCDs' first
A 22 year-old Malaysian man attempting to smuggle VCDs into Singapore did not expect his plans to be thwarted by another kind of VCD - Vigilant Checkpoint Dynamos which is an apt description of our Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Tuas Checkpoint. On 8 Oct 2003 at about 2015 hours, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered Honda Accord to stop for a routine check at the Arrival Car Bay at Tuas Checkpoint.
2 The driver appeared composed initially. During the search, our eagle-eyed ICA officers spotted a small opening leading to a specially constructed compartment behind the rear speaker of the car. At this point, the driver became nervous and could not answer the questions posed by our officers coherently. After removing the rear passenger seats and the wooden panel separating the rear seats and the boot compartment, the specially constructed compartment was found loaded with packages containing 1,215 VCDs and 50 DVDs suspected to be obscene, 4,894 VCDs and 392 DVDs that were believed to be uncensored and 584 musis CDs.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$400 to drive the vehicle into Singapore and was instructed by a fellow Malaysian to park the vehicle somewhere in Jurong. The total haul totalled 7,135 pieces of assorted discs with a street value of S$50,000 and GST involved amounted to S$2,000. The Malaysian man was immediately arrested and the exhibits and car seized. 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
9 Oct 2003
2 The driver appeared composed initially. During the search, our eagle-eyed ICA officers spotted a small opening leading to a specially constructed compartment behind the rear speaker of the car. At this point, the driver became nervous and could not answer the questions posed by our officers coherently. After removing the rear passenger seats and the wooden panel separating the rear seats and the boot compartment, the specially constructed compartment was found loaded with packages containing 1,215 VCDs and 50 DVDs suspected to be obscene, 4,894 VCDs and 392 DVDs that were believed to be uncensored and 584 musis CDs.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$400 to drive the vehicle into Singapore and was instructed by a fellow Malaysian to park the vehicle somewhere in Jurong. The total haul totalled 7,135 pieces of assorted discs with a street value of S$50,000 and GST involved amounted to S$2,000. The Malaysian man was immediately arrested and the exhibits and car seized. 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
9 Oct 2003