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Contraband Cigarettes And Chewing Tobacco Worth More Than S$100,000 Seized Within 8 Hours
Within the span of eight hours, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Land Domain foiled three attempts of illegal smuggling of contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco, concealed in three different types of vehicles, through the land checkpoints. The same method of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.
Contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco found in luggage compartment of bus
2. On 29 July 2015 at about 11.15pm, an empty Malaysia-registered bus driven by a 51-year-old male Malaysian was directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, a box wrapped in black plastic containing contraband cigarettes was found hidden in the luggage compartment. Upon further inspection, another four similar boxes and two pails containing chewing tobacco were retrieved from the luggage compartment. A total of 125 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 2,400 sachets of chewing tobacco were uncovered. Please refer to Annex A for photos.
Chewing Tobacco found in the engine compartment of two lorries
3. The following day, 30 July 2015 at about 5.45am, two Malaysia-registered lorries driven by a 47-year-old male Malaysian and a 28-year-old male Malaysian respectively, were directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, ICA officers uncovered three black plastic bundles containing chewing tobacco hidden in the engine compartment of one of the lorries. Subsequently, another two black plastic bundles were also uncovered from the engine compartment of the other lorry. A total of 18,142 sachets of chewing tobacco were uncovered from the five bundles.
Contraband cigarettes found in modified compartments of a car
4. The same day, less than an hour later, at about 6.30am, ICA officers at the Tuas Checkpoint uncovered 298 cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in the modified compartments of an arriving Malaysia-registered car. The car was driven by a 32-year-old lone male Malaysian.
5. A total of 423 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 20,542 sachets of chewing tobacco worth more than S$100,000 were seized from the three cases. The total duty as well as Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded S$88,000 and S$7,000 respectively. The drivers, contraband items and vehicles for all cases were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited. Investigations are ongoing.
6. 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.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
31 July 2015
Annex A
Contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco found in luggage compartment of bus
Boxes and pails from the luggage compartment that contained the contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco
Chewing Tobacco uncovered from the engine compartment of two lorries
Chewing tobacco hidden in the engine compartment of the lorries
Contraband cigarettes found in modified compartments of a car
From left: Contraband cigarettes found in modified backrest and passenger seats
From left: Contraband cigarettes found in modified door panel and rear bumper
Contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco found in luggage compartment of bus
2. On 29 July 2015 at about 11.15pm, an empty Malaysia-registered bus driven by a 51-year-old male Malaysian was directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, a box wrapped in black plastic containing contraband cigarettes was found hidden in the luggage compartment. Upon further inspection, another four similar boxes and two pails containing chewing tobacco were retrieved from the luggage compartment. A total of 125 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 2,400 sachets of chewing tobacco were uncovered. Please refer to Annex A for photos.
Chewing Tobacco found in the engine compartment of two lorries
3. The following day, 30 July 2015 at about 5.45am, two Malaysia-registered lorries driven by a 47-year-old male Malaysian and a 28-year-old male Malaysian respectively, were directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, ICA officers uncovered three black plastic bundles containing chewing tobacco hidden in the engine compartment of one of the lorries. Subsequently, another two black plastic bundles were also uncovered from the engine compartment of the other lorry. A total of 18,142 sachets of chewing tobacco were uncovered from the five bundles.
Contraband cigarettes found in modified compartments of a car
4. The same day, less than an hour later, at about 6.30am, ICA officers at the Tuas Checkpoint uncovered 298 cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in the modified compartments of an arriving Malaysia-registered car. The car was driven by a 32-year-old lone male Malaysian.
5. A total of 423 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 20,542 sachets of chewing tobacco worth more than S$100,000 were seized from the three cases. The total duty as well as Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded S$88,000 and S$7,000 respectively. The drivers, contraband items and vehicles for all cases were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited. Investigations are ongoing.
6. 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.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
31 July 2015
Annex A
Contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco found in luggage compartment of bus
Boxes and pails from the luggage compartment that contained the contraband cigarettes and chewing tobacco
Chewing Tobacco uncovered from the engine compartment of two lorries
Chewing tobacco hidden in the engine compartment of the lorries
Contraband cigarettes found in modified compartments of a car
From left: Contraband cigarettes found in modified backrest and passenger seats
From left: Contraband cigarettes found in modified door panel and rear bumper