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Contraband Cigarettes And Unmanufactured Tobacco Seized At Tuas Checkpoint
On 5 September 2015 at about 7.40am, a Malaysia-registered prime mover declared to be carrying a consignment of “662 boxes of electrolytic capacitors” was directed for further checks upon arrival at Tuas Checkpoint. The vehicle was driven by a lone 42-year-old male Malaysian.
2. Upon further inspection, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers uncovered contraband cigarettes hidden amongst the consignment and a total of 4,050 cartons of contraband cigarettes as well as 150 bundles each containing approximately 1kg of unmanufactured tobacco, were retrieved from the vehicle. Please refer to Annex A for photos.
3. The total potential duty and GST evaded amounted to over S$419,000. The Malaysian, the contraband items and the vehicle were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicle used in the commission of such offences is liable to be forfeited.
4. 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.
Annex A
Contraband cigarettes hidden amongst the consignment
Bundles of unmanufactured tobacco hidden amongst the consignment
Total contraband items seized
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
7 September 2015
2. Upon further inspection, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers uncovered contraband cigarettes hidden amongst the consignment and a total of 4,050 cartons of contraband cigarettes as well as 150 bundles each containing approximately 1kg of unmanufactured tobacco, were retrieved from the vehicle. Please refer to Annex A for photos.
3. The total potential duty and GST evaded amounted to over S$419,000. The Malaysian, the contraband items and the vehicle were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicle used in the commission of such offences is liable to be forfeited.
4. 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.
Annex A
Contraband cigarettes hidden amongst the consignment
Bundles of unmanufactured tobacco hidden amongst the consignment
Total contraband items seized
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
7 September 2015