February 10 2010 at 3.45pm may have been an auspicious time for the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), especially when it comes to thwarting of smuggling attempts. With just distance separating them, two groups of smugglers had attempted to sneak more than 1,900 cartons of contraband cigarettes into Singapore.

2 In the first case, two Malaysians were caught at the Tuas Checkpoint for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes hidden in a modified compartment within the floorboard of a consignment of hydrated lime while the other case involved five Indonesian seamen who were intercepted at Jurong Wharf for hiding the illegal smokes under the floorboard of the vessel. Unfortunately for these men, our officers had outwitted them.

Case 1 – Tuas Checkpoint, 1,800 cartons of contraband cigarettes detected

3 On 10 February at about 3.45pm, a Malaysia-registered 40-footer trailer conveying 24 tonnes of hydrated lime was stopped for a routine check at the Arrival Cargo zone of Tuas Checkpoint. In the course of their search, the officers found signs of anomalies at the edges of the trailer’s floorboard. Suspecting that some items could be hidden beneath the floorboard, the trailer was then directed to the inspection pit for further checks.

4 It was certainly a laborious process to un-stuff the bags of hydrated lime, each weighing 600 kilogrammes. After hours of hard work, the ICA officers’ efforts were richly rewarded with a total of 1,800 cartons of assorted brands duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the modified compartment within the floorboard.


Innocuous looking trailer used for offence




Floorboard compartment hidden with the contrabands



Floorboard compartment when emptied



The seized contraband

5 Preliminary investigations showed that the Indian driver was promised a fee of RM2,000 by the accompanying attendant for the successful delivery of the duty-unpaid cigarettes. The attendant claimed that he had been asked by an unknown male Malaysian to guide the driver to Senoko Loop where the contrabands would be delivered. He was to be paid RM200 on completion of his task. The seized contrabands and the trailer were handed over to Singapore Customs (SC). The two men are also assisting SC in the investigation.

Case 2 – Jurong Wharf, 100 cartons of contraband cigarettes uncovered

6 At exactly the same day and time, our ICA officers from the anti-smuggling team of the Coastal Command boarded the vessel, "Budi Jasa 17” for checks. The vessel had just arrived from Batam and had berthed alongside the Jurong Wharf.

7 The ICA officers conducted a thorough check of the vessel. When they came to the vessel’s storeroom, what greeted them were debris and un-used ship stores. However, before they start rummaging through the debris, they detected a light whiff of kretek cigarettes within the confined space. Immediately, all hands were on deck to remove the debris from the storeroom and true to their instincts, the officers found traces of items hidden beneath the floorboard of the vessel.

8 Wasting no time, the officers pried open the floorboard and unearthed 100 cartons of assorted brands of cigarettes hidden under the store floorboard.

   
ICA officers getting all dirty while prying open the floorboard



The officers’ keen sense of smell led them to the hidden kerets cigarettes

9 Preliminary findings revealed that the five Indonesian crew members, two of whom were traced to have previous records of smuggling contraband cigarettes into Singapore, had bought the illicit items from Tiban Centre at Sekupang, hoping to sell to them to potential buyers at the wharf for S$20 per carton. The duty unpaid cigarettes have been handed over to SC and all the crew members are assisting SC in investigation.

10 The total Customs duties and GST involved for the cigarettes seized in these two cases amount to S$132,000 and S$11,850 respectively. Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty evaded and liable to a jail term not exceeding three years. For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to six years. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. The vehicle used in conveying the contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.

11 Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The ICA has tightened security checks on our borders to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband.


END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
12 February 2010