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“Smiley” buses
For most frequent travellers shuttling between Singapore and Malaysia, the public express buses normally come across as “smiley” and cheerful with their bright yellow overcoat. At a reasonably affordable price, passengers are able to reach their destinations across both sides of the causeway in a pleasant and comfortable manner for they know perfectly that these buses follow a designated route with minimal stops. However, little do they know that, sometimes, underneath this deceivingly convivial atmosphere, and literally, beneath them, lie some dirty secrets that might have otherwise overcast their happy mood.
2. On 23 Oct 08, at about 0510 hrs, a seemingly usual Malaysia registered Causeway Link Express bus made its daily scheduled ferry into the Tuas Checkpoint’s Arrival Bus zone when our vigilant officers spotted anomalies in the routine scan using the Z-backscatter van. Although the Malaysian male driver was a familiar face and the bus was one that plied daily between Singapore and Malaysia, our alert officers did not let these factors influence their rational judgment call. The officers immediately conduct a thorough check on this express bus.
This is not a luggage compartment!
3. When our officers proceeded to open one of the 2 compartments underneath the bus, they knew that their instincts were spot on with 4 bags seen hidden on top of the fuel tank. Upon opening one of the bags, it was found to contain VCDs. This spurred our officers on to open the next compartment as they were certain that more illicit items were concealed within. However, the adjacent compartment was locked and the driver claimed that it could not be opened. Well, our experienced officers had heard better excuses before and the eventual search on this next compartment yielded bountiful reward.
And I though this was locked?
4. A grand total of 482 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes and approximately 7,900 pieces of obscene and uncensored discs were retrieved from the 2 compartments. The potential customs duty and GST involved on the duty-unpaid tobacco product amount to $33,900 and $3,000 respectively.
482 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes and approximately 7905 discs
5. Under rigorous interrogation, the 48 year old Chinese driver finally admitted knowledge to the uncensored discs found but insisted that he was not aware of the obscene discs or the cigarettes. He claimed that he was enticed with an offer by one male Malaysian, known as ‘Ah Wei’ to convey the discs into Singapore using his company bus. Plagued with financial difficulties, he accepted the monetary offer of RM700, not knowing that the ‘deal’ comprises a lot more than the innocuous uncensored discs.
6. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for 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.
7. Of late, ICA has seen many syndicates exploiting the use of buses that ply regularly across the causeway to smuggle in contrabands and other illegal items. In most of these cases, the cash-strapped drivers had agreed to help syndicates for a paltry sum of ‘coffee money’ since little effort is required of them. Often, they are easily exploited by syndicate members who convinced them that ICA is unlikely to subject them to strict checks since they ply the causeways regularly. However, they were normally not told the downside of the deal. They might be successful once or twice but the long arms of the laws will eventually catch up with them.
8. The bus operators are reminded that proper instructions and strict regulations have to be set out to ensure that their drivers do not get involved in such illegal activities. Their bus companies are liable to the offences committed by their drivers, and risk the potential forfeiture of their vehicle. In addition, the rest of the innocent passengers traveling on these buses would also be greatly inconvenienced.
9. Our borders are our first line of defense 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.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
24 October 2008
2. On 23 Oct 08, at about 0510 hrs, a seemingly usual Malaysia registered Causeway Link Express bus made its daily scheduled ferry into the Tuas Checkpoint’s Arrival Bus zone when our vigilant officers spotted anomalies in the routine scan using the Z-backscatter van. Although the Malaysian male driver was a familiar face and the bus was one that plied daily between Singapore and Malaysia, our alert officers did not let these factors influence their rational judgment call. The officers immediately conduct a thorough check on this express bus.
This is not a luggage compartment!
3. When our officers proceeded to open one of the 2 compartments underneath the bus, they knew that their instincts were spot on with 4 bags seen hidden on top of the fuel tank. Upon opening one of the bags, it was found to contain VCDs. This spurred our officers on to open the next compartment as they were certain that more illicit items were concealed within. However, the adjacent compartment was locked and the driver claimed that it could not be opened. Well, our experienced officers had heard better excuses before and the eventual search on this next compartment yielded bountiful reward.
And I though this was locked?
4. A grand total of 482 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes and approximately 7,900 pieces of obscene and uncensored discs were retrieved from the 2 compartments. The potential customs duty and GST involved on the duty-unpaid tobacco product amount to $33,900 and $3,000 respectively.
482 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes and approximately 7905 discs
5. Under rigorous interrogation, the 48 year old Chinese driver finally admitted knowledge to the uncensored discs found but insisted that he was not aware of the obscene discs or the cigarettes. He claimed that he was enticed with an offer by one male Malaysian, known as ‘Ah Wei’ to convey the discs into Singapore using his company bus. Plagued with financial difficulties, he accepted the monetary offer of RM700, not knowing that the ‘deal’ comprises a lot more than the innocuous uncensored discs.
6. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for 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.
7. Of late, ICA has seen many syndicates exploiting the use of buses that ply regularly across the causeway to smuggle in contrabands and other illegal items. In most of these cases, the cash-strapped drivers had agreed to help syndicates for a paltry sum of ‘coffee money’ since little effort is required of them. Often, they are easily exploited by syndicate members who convinced them that ICA is unlikely to subject them to strict checks since they ply the causeways regularly. However, they were normally not told the downside of the deal. They might be successful once or twice but the long arms of the laws will eventually catch up with them.
8. The bus operators are reminded that proper instructions and strict regulations have to be set out to ensure that their drivers do not get involved in such illegal activities. Their bus companies are liable to the offences committed by their drivers, and risk the potential forfeiture of their vehicle. In addition, the rest of the innocent passengers traveling on these buses would also be greatly inconvenienced.
9. Our borders are our first line of defense 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.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
24 October 2008