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ICA Officers Foiled Attempt to Smuggle Three Persons Hiding in Secret Compartment into Singapore
On 6 Oct 2003 at about 2205 hours, three illegal immigrants and their Malaysian driver found out for themselves that nothing escapes the eyes of our alert Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Woodlands Checkpoint. The three illegal immigrants had tried to enter Singapore illegally by hiding in a secret compartment in the boot of a Malaysian-registered car driven by a 19-year old male Malaysian.
2 Our ICA officers stopped the incoming car for a check when they noticed that the car boot appeared to be heavy even though there were no passengers at the back. The driver was asked to open the boot for inspection, which he did with great difficulty. The officers' suspicions were aroused by the driver's behaviour and when only a car tyre of a different size from those of the car was found in the boot. A thorough check was conducted and three persons were found hiding in the secret compartment in the car boot. The driver and the three persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that two of the persons were from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and one from India. The two PRC nationals, one male and one female, were found with valid travel documents but no visas to enter Singapore while the male Indian national did not have any travel document at all. The illegal immigrants are aged 40, 35 and 26 years old respectively.
4 Investigations also revealed that the driver was approached by a syndicate in Malaysia and was promised about RM$500 to convey the three persons into Singapore and was to drop them at any location after passing through immigration clearance. The syndicate had also given the driver a fake Malaysian driving licence since the driver did not have one.
5 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the smuggler faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
7 Oct 2003
2 Our ICA officers stopped the incoming car for a check when they noticed that the car boot appeared to be heavy even though there were no passengers at the back. The driver was asked to open the boot for inspection, which he did with great difficulty. The officers' suspicions were aroused by the driver's behaviour and when only a car tyre of a different size from those of the car was found in the boot. A thorough check was conducted and three persons were found hiding in the secret compartment in the car boot. The driver and the three persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that two of the persons were from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and one from India. The two PRC nationals, one male and one female, were found with valid travel documents but no visas to enter Singapore while the male Indian national did not have any travel document at all. The illegal immigrants are aged 40, 35 and 26 years old respectively.
4 Investigations also revealed that the driver was approached by a syndicate in Malaysia and was promised about RM$500 to convey the three persons into Singapore and was to drop them at any location after passing through immigration clearance. The syndicate had also given the driver a fake Malaysian driving licence since the driver did not have one.
5 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the smuggler faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
7 Oct 2003