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Stacko
STACKO
– A game of wits, luck and sense of balance where you lose when the tower collapses!
To three Indian nationals, they were playing their version of Stacko and knew their game was up when the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers broke their human tower.
2 On 12 March 2011, at about 11.40am, ICA officers directed a departing Malaysia-registered prime mover for checks at the cargo zone of Woodlands Checkpoint. When the 40-footer vehicle pulled over, the eagled-eyed officers observed the fidgety and uneasy body language of the male Malaysian driver and proceeded with a meticulous inspection of the heavy vehicle.
Making the illicit hideout look as inconspicuous as possible
3 When inspecting the driver’s cabin, the ICA officers noticed that the area behind the driver’s seat was stacked with pillows and partitioned by a curtain. On removing the curtain and pillows, the officers found a storage compartment, hidden behind the driver’s seat. As soon as they opened the boxed partition designed as a rest area for accompanying drivers on long-haul journeys, they came face-to-face with three Indians who stacked themselves up to fit into the cramped space. The trio and the Malaysian driver were immediately placed under arrest.
A game of human Stacko!
4 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 29-year-old Malaysian driver was enticed into the illicit courier assignment with a promise of $500 for each immigration offender that he successfully brings out of the country. Arrangements were made to pick up the three immigration offenders along Woodlands Road and the men were told to cram into the small storage compartment as his trailer headed towards the checkpoint.
5 The trio who were found hiding in the miniscule compartment was established to be Indian nationals, aged 34, 36 and 27 respectively. All three revealed that they had come to Singapore to seek illegal employment.
6 The driver and the three Indian nationals are currently under investigation by the ICA. The trailer used in the commission of the offence has also been seized by ICA pending further investigation. The trio might have played a good game of Stacko from Woodlands Road to one of the world’s busiest land crossing but their game was up the moment they met the vigilant ICA officers.
7 The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners 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.
8 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
15 MARCH 2011
To three Indian nationals, they were playing their version of Stacko and knew their game was up when the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers broke their human tower.
2 On 12 March 2011, at about 11.40am, ICA officers directed a departing Malaysia-registered prime mover for checks at the cargo zone of Woodlands Checkpoint. When the 40-footer vehicle pulled over, the eagled-eyed officers observed the fidgety and uneasy body language of the male Malaysian driver and proceeded with a meticulous inspection of the heavy vehicle.
Making the illicit hideout look as inconspicuous as possible
3 When inspecting the driver’s cabin, the ICA officers noticed that the area behind the driver’s seat was stacked with pillows and partitioned by a curtain. On removing the curtain and pillows, the officers found a storage compartment, hidden behind the driver’s seat. As soon as they opened the boxed partition designed as a rest area for accompanying drivers on long-haul journeys, they came face-to-face with three Indians who stacked themselves up to fit into the cramped space. The trio and the Malaysian driver were immediately placed under arrest.
A game of human Stacko!
4 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 29-year-old Malaysian driver was enticed into the illicit courier assignment with a promise of $500 for each immigration offender that he successfully brings out of the country. Arrangements were made to pick up the three immigration offenders along Woodlands Road and the men were told to cram into the small storage compartment as his trailer headed towards the checkpoint.
5 The trio who were found hiding in the miniscule compartment was established to be Indian nationals, aged 34, 36 and 27 respectively. All three revealed that they had come to Singapore to seek illegal employment.
6 The driver and the three Indian nationals are currently under investigation by the ICA. The trailer used in the commission of the offence has also been seized by ICA pending further investigation. The trio might have played a good game of Stacko from Woodlands Road to one of the world’s busiest land crossing but their game was up the moment they met the vigilant ICA officers.
7 The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners 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.
8 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
15 MARCH 2011