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ICA Pulls Handbrake on Attempt to Smuggle Immigration Offenders
A van carrying second-hand goods was caught by surprise when officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were on hand to seize the immigration offenders hidden amongst the goods.
2. The Malaysian-registered van was on its way out of Singapore through the Woodlands Checkpoint on 12 December 2007, at around 4.15pm. When a routine search was conducted on the van, two male Bangladesh nationals, aged 22 and 27, were found hiding among the goods. When interviewed, they said that they paid an agent S$500 and S$1,300 respectively to be smuggled out of Singapore. They also claimed that the driver had asked them to hide among the second-hand goods. The 22-year-old man is an overstayer, while the other man is believed to be an illegal immigrant.
3. The driver and his assistant, both Malaysians aged 28 and 25 respectively, were also detained. Both men admitted that they were aware of the immigration offenders hiding at the back of the van.
Investigations are ongoing
4. ICA is investigating all four persons for immigration-related offences. The van has also been seized.
Related penalties
5. ICA takes a serious view of immigration offences. Under the Immigration Act, the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying (exceeding 90 days) are – a jail term not exceeding six months, and caning not less than three strokes. In cases where caning cannot be administered, the offender will be fined up to $6,000. The penalty for conveying illegal immigrants in or out of Singapore is a jail term of two to five years, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
Potential problems caused by immigration offenders
6. ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter and overstay in Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter and overstay, immigration offenders pose potential law and order problems as they may turn to crime when faced with difficulties in finding illegal employment and assimilating into societies. ICA will continue to work with our strategic partners to flush out immigration offenders to maintain the safety and security of the community.
2. The Malaysian-registered van was on its way out of Singapore through the Woodlands Checkpoint on 12 December 2007, at around 4.15pm. When a routine search was conducted on the van, two male Bangladesh nationals, aged 22 and 27, were found hiding among the goods. When interviewed, they said that they paid an agent S$500 and S$1,300 respectively to be smuggled out of Singapore. They also claimed that the driver had asked them to hide among the second-hand goods. The 22-year-old man is an overstayer, while the other man is believed to be an illegal immigrant.
3. The driver and his assistant, both Malaysians aged 28 and 25 respectively, were also detained. Both men admitted that they were aware of the immigration offenders hiding at the back of the van.
Investigations are ongoing
4. ICA is investigating all four persons for immigration-related offences. The van has also been seized.
Related penalties
5. ICA takes a serious view of immigration offences. Under the Immigration Act, the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying (exceeding 90 days) are – a jail term not exceeding six months, and caning not less than three strokes. In cases where caning cannot be administered, the offender will be fined up to $6,000. The penalty for conveying illegal immigrants in or out of Singapore is a jail term of two to five years, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
Potential problems caused by immigration offenders
6. ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter and overstay in Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter and overstay, immigration offenders pose potential law and order problems as they may turn to crime when faced with difficulties in finding illegal employment and assimilating into societies. ICA will continue to work with our strategic partners to flush out immigration offenders to maintain the safety and security of the community.