Celebrating Christmas with delectable log cakes smothered in coffee or chocolate-flavoured icing and decorated with sugared holly leaves and roses is a gastronomic tradition which evolved from the olden customs of burning an enormous log of freshly cut wood called the Yule log in the hearth. Cutting up the log cakes usually reveals the spongy cake roll hidden underneath the thick layers of icing. However, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint hit bakery bizarre when they drilled down to the core of a consignment of nicely stacked logs and found cigarettes instead.

2     On 23 December 2008 at about 1240hrs, a Malaysia-registered lorry driven by a male Malaysian arrived at the cargo complex of Woodlands Checkpoint. According to the permit submitted by the driver, the consignment was declared as mixed hardwood sawn timber which was to be delivered to a specific venue at Defu Lane. During the course of the checks, ICA officers uncovered what was the largest haul of contraband cigarettes for this year - a grand total of 8, 110 cartons!

3     The meticulous bundling of the timber strips seems to be a clever deceit to mask the smuggler’s malicious intent to fool our vigilant officers at the checkpoint. The timber strips were packed closely together, revealing no gaps or crevices to suggest mildly that there were illicit items hidden within. Nevertheless, the tireless officers on the ground insisted on conducting a thorough check of the tightly packed timber. Indeed, the festive mood had not gotten the better of our officers who were all ready to scoop up those who intended to make use of the celebratory atmosphere to smuggle in illegal items. Staying ever so guarded, the un-stuffing uncovered a grand total of 8,110 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, making it the largest haul for ICA this year! The potential Customs duty and GST payable for the contrabands amount to about S$571,000 and S$51,700 respectively.

Do we see Santa on this sledge?

                                            Nothing’s amiss if you ask me.


                                

                                                         Log’s hideaway!


4     During the initial stages of questioning, the 36-year-old Indian driver vehemently denied knowledge of the stowaway cigarettes. He claimed that he was instructed by his boss to send the consignment to Defu Lane and knew nothing else.

5     The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigations. Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded. For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to two years, as well as being fined. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. The lorry used in conveying this contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.

6     Under the Customs Act as well as the Immigration Act, vehicles used in the smuggling of contraband items or illegal immigrants will be seized and are liable to be forfeited. It is the responsibility of logistics companies and bus owners operating across the borders to ensure that their vehicles are not used for smuggling unlawful goods or persons into Singapore as they would ultimately have to bear the cost of their employees’ 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 vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.


IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
26 DECEMBER 2008