430,000 daily travellers during peak periods 

46,000 contraband cases detected 

800 cases of Singaporeans detected for using wrong or invalid passports  

 
        Security at our checkpoints remains the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)’s top priority against any potential threats to Singapore. As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, travellers should expect a longer than usual waiting time as there will be tight security checks at the checkpoints.

2.     Traffic through the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints is expected to build up in the week leading to the Lunar New Year and will be particularly heavy from Thursday, 26 January to Tuesday, 31 January 2017. About 400,000 travellers use the land checkpoints daily and this number is expected to increase to 430,000 during peak periods. With security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable and delays will be expected especially when a large number of travellers and conveyances choose to cross the land links at the same time.

3.     ICA officers will remain watchful and vigilant as smuggling attempts continue despite the stringent checks. More than 46,000 cases of contraband items were detected at the land checkpoints in 2016 and this works out to an average of 126 cases per day – please see Annex for some of the cases.

Travellers Have a Part to Play



4.     Travellers are reminded not to bring in prohibited items such as firecrackers. Controlled items such as ‘bak kwa’, eggs and potted plants, are subject to travellers’ allowance only from approved countries. For more details, please visit the ICA website at www.ica.gov.sg.

5.     Travellers are also reminded to check and ensure that they are using their own passports with a remaining validity of six months or more before setting off on their journey. Last year, about 800 cases of Singaporeans were detected at our land checkpoints for using wrong passports or passports earlier reported as lost or stolen. Such cases will lead to delays and cause inconvenience to the passport holders and other checkpoints users. Passports which had been reported lost or stolen can no longer be used for travelling even if they are found subsequently. These passports will be cancelled by ICA, and any attempt to use them is an offence under the Passports Act and may be punished by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both. Passports that have been recovered must be surrendered to the ICA within 14 days to prevent abuse by persons with ill-intent. Failure to surrender the recovered passport is an offence under the Passports Regulations and may be punished by a fine of up to $3,000 or imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both.

Traffic Information

6.     Motorists are advised to check the traffic situation at both land checkpoints before embarking on their journey through LTA’s Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) installed along the AYE and BKE respectively.

Clearance Efficiency Without Compromising Security

7.     The ICA will continue to take necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security. We seek travellers’ understanding and cooperation when using the land checkpoints.

For more Traffic Information:
a. Call the traffic information hotline at 6863-0117;
b. Tune in to the radio for the latest traffic conditions; or
c. Visit LTA’s One Motoring website (www.onemotoring.com.sg) or MyTransport.SG portal (www.mytransport.sg) to check the latest traffic conditions before embarking on your journey.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
24 JANUARY 2017

Annex

CASE #1 – 3,998 CARTONS AND 40 PACKETS OF DUTY-UNPAID CIGARETTES SEIZED AT WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT

18 January 2017, 8.55am

 

 

 

 

 

ICA officers found 3,998 cartons and 40 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, amongst a consignment declared to be fruits, vegetables and flowers.

 

The potential duty and GST amounted to about $312,880 and $31,410 respectively.

 

Two male Malaysians aged 36 and 40 years old, were referred to the Singapore Customs. Investigation is currently ongoing. The Malaysia-registered lorry is also liable for forfeiture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASE #2 – MALAYSIAN MAN DETECTED BY CHECKPOINT OFFICER FOR BRINGING IN FIREWORKS AT WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT

17 January 2017, about 12am

 

A box of fireworks was detected in the car boot of a Malaysia-registered car. The 25-year-old Malaysian male driver, who was accompanied by a 26-year-old Malaysian female, was referred to SPF for investigation.

 

Fireworks are prohibited items under the Dangerous Fireworks Act.

CASE #3 – ‘POP-POP’ BANG-SNAPS DETECTED AT WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT
 

22 January 2017, at about 10am

 

 

 

Fifteen boxes of ‘Pop-Pop’ brand firecrackers, were detected in a Singapore-registered car driven by a 62-year-old Singaporean woman. The “Pop-Pop” were subsequently seized by SPF.

 

“Pop-Pop” is a prohibited item under the Dangerous Fireworks Act.