Six Live Puppies Detected At Woodlands Checkpoint
2 During the inspection, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) uncovered six live puppies hidden in a modified compartment underneath the rear passenger seat of the car. The driver, the puppies and the vehicle were referred to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigations. The driver is assisting AVA with the investigation.
3 While the case is under AVA’s investigation, the six puppies are cared for and quarantined at AVA’s Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station for observation for signs of infectious or contagious diseases, especially rabies – a disease fatal to animals and humans.
4 Animals that are smuggled into Singapore are of unknown health status and may introduce exotic diseases, such as rabies, into the country. The importation of any animals or live birds without an AVA permit is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
5 Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security. The ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.
6 The ICA and AVA would like to remind travellers against bringing live animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit. The public can refer to AVA’s website or download AVA’s mobile app, SG TravelKaki (available free-of-charge from iTunes and the Google Play store), for more information on bringing back animals from overseas travels.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
AGRI-FOOD & VETERINARY AUTHORITY
21 May 2016
ICA photo: Six live puppies hidden in a modified compartment underneath rear passenger seat
ICA photo: Six puppies were uncovered
AVA photo: Puppies undergoing health checks at AVA’s Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station