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Stuck In Stacks
It was another bustling morning at Woodlands Checkpoint where lorries are waiting patiently to depart after off-loading their fresh produce all over Singapore. However, one lorry had some “leftover” which did not escape the eyes of officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
2. On 28 November 2012 at about 4.45am, ICA officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint directed a departing Malaysia-registered lorry, driven by a lone man for checks. In the course of physical inspection, the vigilant officers spotted a man hiding between stacks of empty vegetable baskets at the back of the lorry.
Innocuous-looking lorry used in the smuggling attempt
The man was found hidden between the stacked baskets
3. Both the 31-year-old Malaysian driver and the 28-year-old Bangladeshi national were immediately placed under arrest. They are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and is liable for forfeiture. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
4. 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.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
28 NOVEMBER 2012
2. On 28 November 2012 at about 4.45am, ICA officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint directed a departing Malaysia-registered lorry, driven by a lone man for checks. In the course of physical inspection, the vigilant officers spotted a man hiding between stacks of empty vegetable baskets at the back of the lorry.
Innocuous-looking lorry used in the smuggling attempt
The man was found hidden between the stacked baskets
3. Both the 31-year-old Malaysian driver and the 28-year-old Bangladeshi national were immediately placed under arrest. They are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and is liable for forfeiture. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
4. 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.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
28 NOVEMBER 2012