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Fishy fuel tank gives the game away
It is indeed challenging to be guarding Singapore’s borders, as officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) find themselves in constant battles against the smugglers to find out what fishy business they are up to. Or for that matter, what the smugglers had stuffed into the fuel tank of their conveyance in this latest case. Only this time, it was not a vehicle; the loot worth over $65,100 was concealed in the fuel container of a fish carrier. We are indeed amazed by the way the smugglers think in order to get around our checks. Despite their creative ways, the smugglers often underestimate our officers’ capabilities as the trained ICA officers are ever vigilant to evolving bootlegging tactics.
2 A seemingly innocuous fish carrier arriving at about 2315 hrs on 14 August 2009 did not escape the alertness of the ICA Anti-Smuggling Team (AST) The specialised team of ICA Coastal officers conducted a search on the vessel at Jurong Fishery Port. When going through the engine room of the carrier, the eagle-eyed officers observed that paint around the cover of the fuel tank as well as around the nut and bolt area had been scrapped off. Immediately, the officers knew this tank had been tampered with.
What gave the game away – Signs that the fuel tank had been tampered with
3 With the tell-tale indicators, officers proceeded to open the fuel tank. Their efforts were rewarded when they uncovered 32 packages of polythene bags containing 1,650 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the receptacle meant for containing fuel. The potential duty and GST payable for the illegal smokes cigarettes amount to S$62,300 and S$3,300 respectively.
Total seizure of 1,650 cartons of duty-unpaid ciggies from the fuel tank
4 Upon questioning, six of the 15-member crew admitted ownership of the exhibits found. They were immediately placed under arrest. The Indonesian male subjects, aged between 23 and 45 years, claimed that they had been separately approached by the same man called "Adi" or "Pandi" in a coffee shop situated in Tanjung Balai, Indonesia. The man had tempted them with an offer of S$1,000 each for the successful bootlegging attempt.
5 The case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigations. 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 ferries used in conveying this contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.
6 Under the Customs Act as well as the Immigration Act, conveyances used in the smuggling of contraband items or illegal immigrants will be seized and are liable to be forfeited. Ferry operators should ensure that their vessels are not being used for smuggling unlawful goods or persons into Singapore as they would ultimately have to bear the cost of their crew’s wrongdoings.
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 conveyances at the various checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
18 August 2009
2 A seemingly innocuous fish carrier arriving at about 2315 hrs on 14 August 2009 did not escape the alertness of the ICA Anti-Smuggling Team (AST) The specialised team of ICA Coastal officers conducted a search on the vessel at Jurong Fishery Port. When going through the engine room of the carrier, the eagle-eyed officers observed that paint around the cover of the fuel tank as well as around the nut and bolt area had been scrapped off. Immediately, the officers knew this tank had been tampered with.
What gave the game away – Signs that the fuel tank had been tampered with
3 With the tell-tale indicators, officers proceeded to open the fuel tank. Their efforts were rewarded when they uncovered 32 packages of polythene bags containing 1,650 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the receptacle meant for containing fuel. The potential duty and GST payable for the illegal smokes cigarettes amount to S$62,300 and S$3,300 respectively.
Total seizure of 1,650 cartons of duty-unpaid ciggies from the fuel tank
4 Upon questioning, six of the 15-member crew admitted ownership of the exhibits found. They were immediately placed under arrest. The Indonesian male subjects, aged between 23 and 45 years, claimed that they had been separately approached by the same man called "Adi" or "Pandi" in a coffee shop situated in Tanjung Balai, Indonesia. The man had tempted them with an offer of S$1,000 each for the successful bootlegging attempt.
5 The case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigations. 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 ferries used in conveying this contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.
6 Under the Customs Act as well as the Immigration Act, conveyances used in the smuggling of contraband items or illegal immigrants will be seized and are liable to be forfeited. Ferry operators should ensure that their vessels are not being used for smuggling unlawful goods or persons into Singapore as they would ultimately have to bear the cost of their crew’s wrongdoings.
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 conveyances at the various checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
18 August 2009