Smuggling syndicates are becoming desperate, as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has once again beaten them in their own game. They have failed in their attempts to conceal the illicit items by sealing them in concrete slabs. They could not fool our officers by falsely declaring the consignment. In their desperate attempts to evade the stringent checks at the various checkpoints, the crooks have resorted to using the sea route. And to throw the authorities off track, they chose to make use of late hour ferry boats to bring the contraband into the Republic. They seem to have underestimated the officers’ wits as the trained ICA officers are ever vigilant to evolving bootlegging tactics.

2 Suspecting the intentions of two seemingly innocuous vessels arriving during the wee hours on 22 May 2009, the ICA Anti-Smuggling Team (AST), a specialised team of coastal officers, conducted checks on the two ferry boats that were berthed alongside each other in Sungei Pandan. On boarding the vessels, the officers discovered several carton boxes wrapped in black plastic in the cabins as well as floating on the strip of water between the two vessels. After ascertaining that the carton boxes contained duty-unpaid cigarettes, the officers immediately moved in to detain the crew members.

      

  
Uncovering what lies above and beneath
(From top: Blower compartment of one vessel and manhole of another boat)

4 Two of the 11 Indonesian crew members admitted to ownership of the illegal ciggies valued at about S$280,400. Both claimed that the contraband cigarettes were from the same contact in Indonesia. They were instructed to bring the contraband into Singapore where they would then receive further instruction by phone to throw the cigarettes into the waters in Sungei Pandan. If the smuggling attempt was successful, they would be rewarded with S$10/- for each carton of smokes. They were advised to hide the contraband items in less conspicuous hiding places which would be rarely checked. Both subjects then roped in their respective crew into the unlawful activity and promised them a share of the profit pie.



Steely determination to stem the smugglers’ attempt

 

  

Uncovering what lies above and beneath
(From top: Blower compartment of one vessel and manhole of another boat)

4 Two of the 11 Indonesian crew members admitted to ownership of the illegal ciggies valued at about S$280,400. Both claimed that the contraband cigarettes were from the same contact in Indonesia. They were instructed to bring the contraband into Singapore where they would then receive further instruction by phone to throw the cigarettes into the waters in Sungei Pandan. If the smuggling attempt was successful, they would be rewarded with S$10/- for each carton of smokes. They were advised to hide the contraband items in less conspicuous hiding places which would be rarely checked. Both subjects then roped in their respective crew into the unlawful activity and promised them a share of the profit pie.

Total seizure of 2,850 cartons of duty-unpaid ciggies

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
28 MAY 2009