For smugglers who attempt to put up a good front, they should also watch their backs. Officers from the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA) will always stay vigilant to know what they are up to - both front and back! 

 

2.         On 10 May 2013 at about 11.15pm, a Malaysia-registered bus driven by a 46-year-old male Malaysian arrived at the Woodlands Checkpoint and was stopped for checks. In the course of physical inspection, our sharp and experienced officers noticed anomalies near the rear seats of the bus. Our officers dismantled the rear seats and removed the rubber mat to uncover duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden beneath the modified floorboard compartment.

Notice anything amiss?

 

Contraband cigarettes uncovered under the modified floorboard

3.         A total of 1,175 cartons of contraband cigarettes were detected. The total potential Customs duty and GST payable of the cigarettes are estimated to be about $82,700 and $7,800 respectively. The driver, together with the illegal stash and seized bus were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations. 

 

 

All up in smokes

 

4.         Less than 24 hours later, on 11 May 2013 at about 7.40pm, ICA officers directed a Malaysia-registered car for arrival checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint. During the course of checks, officers uncovered a total of 38 slabs of duty unpaid manufactured tobacco in various parts of the car – door panels and air filter. The potential Customs duty and GST for this batch of manufactured tobacco amounted to about $12,700 and $1,400 respectively. The 27-year-old lone male Malaysian driver, the manufactured tobacco and the seized car were also referred to Singapore Customs for further investigations.

 

   
(From left: Manufactured tobacco hidden in the air filter and door panel)

 

5.         Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders will be severely dealt with. They can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. The vehicle used in conveying the contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.

 

6.         Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The enhanced security checks are critical to our nation’s security.  We have tightened our 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

14 MAY 2013