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Smuggling Cigarettes into Singapore? Think Again!
On 26 Aug 2003 at about 0530 hours, a Malaysian registered van driven by a 23 year-old Malaysian man was stopped for a routine check at the Arrival Bus concourse of Woodlands Checkpoint. During the initial check, an alert Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer suspected that there was a hidden compartment under the van and proceeded to drill a hole on the floorboard of the van.
2 With the aid of a fiberscope (a miniature camera-like contraption), ICA officers were able to see cartons of cigarettes hidden under the floorboard. They forced open the secret compartment located between the floorboard and the modified fuel tank and found 148 cartons x 200 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$100 to drive the van to Singapore. The estimated market value of the cigarettes is SGD 10,360. The amount of Customs Duty and Goods and Services Tax involved is about SGD7,548 and SGD 414.40 respectively. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
4 Persons found guilty for importation of counterfeit goods for the purpose of trade or manufacture will be liable to a fine not exceeding SGD10,000 for each good to which the trademark is falsely applied or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
5 ICA has tightened our security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
26 Aug 2003
2 With the aid of a fiberscope (a miniature camera-like contraption), ICA officers were able to see cartons of cigarettes hidden under the floorboard. They forced open the secret compartment located between the floorboard and the modified fuel tank and found 148 cartons x 200 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$100 to drive the van to Singapore. The estimated market value of the cigarettes is SGD 10,360. The amount of Customs Duty and Goods and Services Tax involved is about SGD7,548 and SGD 414.40 respectively. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
4 Persons found guilty for importation of counterfeit goods for the purpose of trade or manufacture will be liable to a fine not exceeding SGD10,000 for each good to which the trademark is falsely applied or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
5 ICA has tightened our security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
26 Aug 2003