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Contraband Cigarettes Seized From Malaysia-Registered Buses At The Land Domain
Over the last weekend, officers at the two checkpoints of the Land Domain successfully foiled two attempts of illegal smuggling of contraband cigarettes. For the first case, contraband cigarettes were found concealed in a school bus with students on board while in the second case, boxes of contraband cigarettes were found in the luggage compartment of a tour bus.
Case 1: Contraband cigarettes found in school bus ferrying students to school
2. On 6 November 2015 at about 6.40am, a Malaysia-registered school bus driven by a 30-year-old female Malaysian was directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. The school bus was ferrying six students attending schools in Singapore. During the course of inspection, duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified storage areas of both sides of the bus were uncovered. A total of 69 cartons and 112 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.
Case 2: Contraband cigarettes seized from bus
3. Three days later, on 9 November 2015 at about 1.00am, officers directed an empty Malaysia-registered tour bus driven by a lone 19-year-old male Malaysian for further checks upon arrival at Tuas Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, officers found contraband cigarettes hidden in the rear luggage compartment of the bus. A total of 1,850 cartons and 499 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.
4. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded for the two cases exceeded S$153,650 and S$14,660. The subjects, contraband cigarettes and vehicles for both cases were handed over to the Singapore Customs for investigations. The vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited. The 30-year-old female Malaysian was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment on 11 November 2015. Investigations are ongoing for the 19-year-old male Malaysian.
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. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
13 November 2015
Case on 6 Nov 2015: Contraband cigarettes found in school bus ferrying students
Case 1: Contraband cigarettes found in school bus ferrying students to school
2. On 6 November 2015 at about 6.40am, a Malaysia-registered school bus driven by a 30-year-old female Malaysian was directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. The school bus was ferrying six students attending schools in Singapore. During the course of inspection, duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified storage areas of both sides of the bus were uncovered. A total of 69 cartons and 112 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.
Case 2: Contraband cigarettes seized from bus
3. Three days later, on 9 November 2015 at about 1.00am, officers directed an empty Malaysia-registered tour bus driven by a lone 19-year-old male Malaysian for further checks upon arrival at Tuas Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, officers found contraband cigarettes hidden in the rear luggage compartment of the bus. A total of 1,850 cartons and 499 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.
4. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded for the two cases exceeded S$153,650 and S$14,660. The subjects, contraband cigarettes and vehicles for both cases were handed over to the Singapore Customs for investigations. The vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited. The 30-year-old female Malaysian was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment on 11 November 2015. Investigations are ongoing for the 19-year-old male Malaysian.
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. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
13 November 2015
Case on 6 Nov 2015: Contraband cigarettes found in school bus ferrying students
Contraband cigarettes found in side panels of school bus
Case on 9 Nov 2015: Contraband cigarettes found in private bus
Contraband cigarettes found in luggage compartment of bus