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What’s in for X’mas at the Coast?
As we count down to the last festive season of the year, most shoppers would feel the adrenaline rush to buy all the gifts they need. After all, it is an occasion for giving and receiving well wishes and presents between friends and loved ones. Exactly one week before Christmas, officers at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) also ‘received’ a large present that came not via the postman but a 65-tonne vessel! The ‘present’ was also unusually wrapped in black wrappers. What’s in for our officers at the coastal checkpoint?
2. On 18 December 2012 at about 11.30am, officers from the Anti-Smuggling Team (AST) boarded a wooden vessel at Selat Pauh Anchorage for a routine check. The vessel had arrived from Indonesia with four crew members onboard.
The ‘unusual’ mode of delivery
3. The ICA officers then proceeded to conduct a check onboard the vessel. During the course of the search of the engine compartment, the experienced and alert officers spotted a suspicious wooden plank wall at the rear of the engine compartment. The meticulous officers scrutinised the plank wall and noticed small gaps. Suspecting that there could be a secret compartment behind, the officers pried the wall and found a total of 1,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes of assorted brands, wrapped in black plastic bags.
What’s inside this ‘Secret Chamber’?
4. During preliminary investigations, the male Indonesians, aged between 40 and 46, admitted to the conveyance of the illicit cigarettes from Batam to Singapore. In return, they were promised a sum of money between S$100 and S$200 each.
5. The four men, together with the exhibits and wooden craft, were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duty payable, GST and value of the 1,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized were estimated to be S$94,300, $8,500 and $121,100 respectively.
‘Presents’ wrapped in black plastic bags
6. 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.
7. 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. In view of the potential danger of introducing infectious diseases into Singapore, we would like to advise the public against the smuggling of animals, animal products, meat and meat products into Singapore.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
19 December 2012
2. On 18 December 2012 at about 11.30am, officers from the Anti-Smuggling Team (AST) boarded a wooden vessel at Selat Pauh Anchorage for a routine check. The vessel had arrived from Indonesia with four crew members onboard.
The ‘unusual’ mode of delivery
3. The ICA officers then proceeded to conduct a check onboard the vessel. During the course of the search of the engine compartment, the experienced and alert officers spotted a suspicious wooden plank wall at the rear of the engine compartment. The meticulous officers scrutinised the plank wall and noticed small gaps. Suspecting that there could be a secret compartment behind, the officers pried the wall and found a total of 1,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes of assorted brands, wrapped in black plastic bags.
What’s inside this ‘Secret Chamber’?
4. During preliminary investigations, the male Indonesians, aged between 40 and 46, admitted to the conveyance of the illicit cigarettes from Batam to Singapore. In return, they were promised a sum of money between S$100 and S$200 each.
5. The four men, together with the exhibits and wooden craft, were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duty payable, GST and value of the 1,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized were estimated to be S$94,300, $8,500 and $121,100 respectively.
‘Presents’ wrapped in black plastic bags
6. 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.
7. 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. In view of the potential danger of introducing infectious diseases into Singapore, we would like to advise the public against the smuggling of animals, animal products, meat and meat products into Singapore.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
19 December 2012