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Slimy Stowaways
“Ugh!” That would be the first thought of touching a slimy reptile. With skin that oozes mucus to keep it from drying out, slimy critters aren't exactly cuddly with their slippery skins. Well, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers dealt with these sluggish creatures in a professional manner when they were stowed away to Singapore.
2 On 6 April 2008 at about 1550 hours, a male Malaysian man was caught by the ICA officers at Changi Airport for attempting to smuggle in 26 pieces of live reptiles / fish -- 19 pieces of live mantella and geckos, 6 pieces of Madagascan burrowing frogs and 1 piece of clown fish.
3 Upon arriving into Singapore, the 26-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident was stopped by ICA officers for x-ray screening at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Terminal 1. While there were no anomalies in the x-ray screening, the vilgilant officer observed that the passenger appeared nervous and uneasy. This raised the officer’s suspicion and he proceeded to conduct a physical examination on the luggage. The checks revealed a total of 6 live mantella laevigata, 6 Madagascan burrowing frogs, 13 geckos and 1 clown fish.
4 The Malaysian man admitted ownership of the exhibits found. Preliminary investigations revealed that he had bought the reptiles and fish for S$1300 at the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand. He claimed that the mantellas and frogs were for himself while the geckos and clown fish were for his friends.
5 The man and the illegal critters were handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigation. For offenders found to have smuggled animals which require CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora) permit for import, they will be liable to conviction under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act (Cap 92A). Offenders in violation of this Act can be fined up to $50,000 for each such species (not exceeding $500,000) and/or face a jail term of up to two years. Otherwise, offenders will be charged under the Wild Animals and Birds Act (Cap 351) and can be fined up to $1,000 in respect of each such wild animal or bird.
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 especially with the escape of Mas Selamat Kastari. 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 smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore. We seek your continued understanding and cooperation, and would like to advise against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
7 April 2008
2 On 6 April 2008 at about 1550 hours, a male Malaysian man was caught by the ICA officers at Changi Airport for attempting to smuggle in 26 pieces of live reptiles / fish -- 19 pieces of live mantella and geckos, 6 pieces of Madagascan burrowing frogs and 1 piece of clown fish.
3 Upon arriving into Singapore, the 26-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident was stopped by ICA officers for x-ray screening at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Terminal 1. While there were no anomalies in the x-ray screening, the vilgilant officer observed that the passenger appeared nervous and uneasy. This raised the officer’s suspicion and he proceeded to conduct a physical examination on the luggage. The checks revealed a total of 6 live mantella laevigata, 6 Madagascan burrowing frogs, 13 geckos and 1 clown fish.
4 The Malaysian man admitted ownership of the exhibits found. Preliminary investigations revealed that he had bought the reptiles and fish for S$1300 at the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand. He claimed that the mantellas and frogs were for himself while the geckos and clown fish were for his friends.
5 The man and the illegal critters were handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigation. For offenders found to have smuggled animals which require CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora) permit for import, they will be liable to conviction under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act (Cap 92A). Offenders in violation of this Act can be fined up to $50,000 for each such species (not exceeding $500,000) and/or face a jail term of up to two years. Otherwise, offenders will be charged under the Wild Animals and Birds Act (Cap 351) and can be fined up to $1,000 in respect of each such wild animal or bird.
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 especially with the escape of Mas Selamat Kastari. 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 smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore. We seek your continued understanding and cooperation, and would like to advise against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
7 April 2008