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Ending the Year on A High Note
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers were not expecting to end the year on such a 'high' note through the detection of a sizeable stash of suspected cannabis, among other contraband items.
Case 1
2. On 28 December 2007, at around 12.50am, a male Singaporean was stopped at the Arrival Bus Hall of the Woodlands Checkpoint for routine checks. When asked to empty the contents of his pocket, he appeared nervous and hesitant. Further checks revealed that there were two blocks of a greenish substance wrapped in clear plastic in his jeans pockets. The substance was suspected to be cannabis, and weighed a total of 46g. When interviewed, the man admitted that he was the owner of the items and claimed that they were meant for his own consumption. The 49-year-old man was immediately placed under arrest.
3. The estimated street value of the suspected cannabis is about S$1,500.
4. The case was handed over to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.
Case 2
5. The following case was sniffed out and snuffed out by officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint and their furry friends.
6. On 27 December 2007, at around 8.50am, a Malaysia-registered maroon car was directed to further checks. In the course of the checks, one of the search dogs showed interest in the floor mat of the vehicle. The mat was lifted, and bundles of optical discs were found hidden beneath the modified floorboard. A total of 2,550 uncensored and suspected obscene discs were retrieved from the vehicle.
7. The driver, a 39-year-old Malaysian, admitted that he knew of the hidden discs. He also revealed that he was promised a fee of RM$500 if his delivery was successful. The suspect and the discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
Case 3
8. By now, officers knew that routine checks often turned out not-so-routine finds.
9. On 28 December 2007 around 1.10am, at the Woodlands Checkpoint, a Singapore-registered black car was directed for further checks. It did not require much effort for the hidden items to be uncovered. Cartons of cigarettes were found hidden in the spare tyre compartment, as well as another compartment near the gear stick. When interviewed, the 42-year-old Singaporean driver admitted that he knew about the hidden cigarettes and said that he had bought them in Johor Bahru to sell to his neighbours and friends at S$55 per carton.
10. The estimated Customs duties and GST payable for the cigarettes (58 cartons and four packets) are $4,100 and $370 respectively. The case has been handed over to the Singapore Customs for investigations.
Penalties
Smuggling of controlled drugs
11. The minimum penalty for unauthorised importation of a Class A controlled drug is five years' imprisonment and five strokes of the cane.
Smuggling of illegal discs
12. Under 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.
Smuggling of cigarettes
13. 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.
Vigilance at the checkpoints
14. Being the guardian of Singapore's checkpoints, ICA is acutely aware that our borders are the first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security against possible terrorist attacks. The increased security checks at all our checkpoints are critical to our nation's security, especially since terrorism remains a clear and present threat to Singapore. ICA now conducts 100 per cent checks on persons, cargo and conveyances that pass through our checkpoints. These enhanced security checks have been effective in helping to detect cases of smuggling illegal goods and illegal immigrants. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods and persons into and out of Singapore.
Case 1
2. On 28 December 2007, at around 12.50am, a male Singaporean was stopped at the Arrival Bus Hall of the Woodlands Checkpoint for routine checks. When asked to empty the contents of his pocket, he appeared nervous and hesitant. Further checks revealed that there were two blocks of a greenish substance wrapped in clear plastic in his jeans pockets. The substance was suspected to be cannabis, and weighed a total of 46g. When interviewed, the man admitted that he was the owner of the items and claimed that they were meant for his own consumption. The 49-year-old man was immediately placed under arrest.
3. The estimated street value of the suspected cannabis is about S$1,500.
4. The case was handed over to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.
Case 2
5. The following case was sniffed out and snuffed out by officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint and their furry friends.
6. On 27 December 2007, at around 8.50am, a Malaysia-registered maroon car was directed to further checks. In the course of the checks, one of the search dogs showed interest in the floor mat of the vehicle. The mat was lifted, and bundles of optical discs were found hidden beneath the modified floorboard. A total of 2,550 uncensored and suspected obscene discs were retrieved from the vehicle.
7. The driver, a 39-year-old Malaysian, admitted that he knew of the hidden discs. He also revealed that he was promised a fee of RM$500 if his delivery was successful. The suspect and the discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
Case 3
8. By now, officers knew that routine checks often turned out not-so-routine finds.
9. On 28 December 2007 around 1.10am, at the Woodlands Checkpoint, a Singapore-registered black car was directed for further checks. It did not require much effort for the hidden items to be uncovered. Cartons of cigarettes were found hidden in the spare tyre compartment, as well as another compartment near the gear stick. When interviewed, the 42-year-old Singaporean driver admitted that he knew about the hidden cigarettes and said that he had bought them in Johor Bahru to sell to his neighbours and friends at S$55 per carton.
10. The estimated Customs duties and GST payable for the cigarettes (58 cartons and four packets) are $4,100 and $370 respectively. The case has been handed over to the Singapore Customs for investigations.
Penalties
Smuggling of controlled drugs
11. The minimum penalty for unauthorised importation of a Class A controlled drug is five years' imprisonment and five strokes of the cane.
Smuggling of illegal discs
12. Under 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.
Smuggling of cigarettes
13. 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.
Vigilance at the checkpoints
14. Being the guardian of Singapore's checkpoints, ICA is acutely aware that our borders are the first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security against possible terrorist attacks. The increased security checks at all our checkpoints are critical to our nation's security, especially since terrorism remains a clear and present threat to Singapore. ICA now conducts 100 per cent checks on persons, cargo and conveyances that pass through our checkpoints. These enhanced security checks have been effective in helping to detect cases of smuggling illegal goods and illegal immigrants. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods and persons into and out of Singapore.