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“Smokescreen” for Obscenity
With the tightened security scrutiny at the checkpoints, it is no wonder smugglers have been resorting to varied methods of concealment to attempt to bring in contrabands into Singapore. While they try hard to outsmart the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, the good has once again triumphed over the evil.
2 On 29 April 2008, at about 0840 hrs, a Singapore-registered car driven by a male Chinese, arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint and was diverted by ICA officers for further checks. In the course of checks, the alert officers sighted the optical discs and contraband cigarettes hidden in a modified fuel tank and floorboard. With their vigilance and persistence, the ICA officers uncovered the attempt to smuggle in the year’s largest number of suspected uncensored / suspected obscene optical discs (VCDs and DVDs).
3 A total of 3,775 optical discs, and over 10,000 sticks (50 cartons x 200’s and 30 packets x 20’s) of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found stashed in the said areas. The potential Customs duty and GST involved on the duty unpaid cigarettes amount to around S$3,900 and S$350 respectively.
4 The 45 year-old Singaporean driver was immediately placed under arrest. When interviewed, he claimed that this was his first attempt at smuggling and he was promised a cash sum of S$200 upon successful delivery. He further revealed that the vehicle was rented by him at a cost of S$1,300 for a month.
5 The subject and contraband cigarettes have been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigations while the optical discs have been handed over to the Singapore Police Force. Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders of cigarette smuggling 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. Under the Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
6 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. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore. ICA will put in every effort and continue to take the necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security. We seek your continued understanding and cooperation, and would like to advise against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
30 April 2008
2 On 29 April 2008, at about 0840 hrs, a Singapore-registered car driven by a male Chinese, arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint and was diverted by ICA officers for further checks. In the course of checks, the alert officers sighted the optical discs and contraband cigarettes hidden in a modified fuel tank and floorboard. With their vigilance and persistence, the ICA officers uncovered the attempt to smuggle in the year’s largest number of suspected uncensored / suspected obscene optical discs (VCDs and DVDs).
3 A total of 3,775 optical discs, and over 10,000 sticks (50 cartons x 200’s and 30 packets x 20’s) of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found stashed in the said areas. The potential Customs duty and GST involved on the duty unpaid cigarettes amount to around S$3,900 and S$350 respectively.
4 The 45 year-old Singaporean driver was immediately placed under arrest. When interviewed, he claimed that this was his first attempt at smuggling and he was promised a cash sum of S$200 upon successful delivery. He further revealed that the vehicle was rented by him at a cost of S$1,300 for a month.
5 The subject and contraband cigarettes have been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigations while the optical discs have been handed over to the Singapore Police Force. Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders of cigarette smuggling 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. Under the Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
6 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. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore. ICA will put in every effort and continue to take the necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security. We seek your continued understanding and cooperation, and would like to advise against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
30 April 2008