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Woodlands Checkpoint Scores a Threesome
In the space of less than 24 hours, the vigilant Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint intercepted three modified vehicles that were used to convey duty-unpaid cigarettes in the course of routine checks.
Case 1 - Floored by the discovery
2. The first vehicle arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on 5 September 2007, at around 4.20pm. The Malaysian-registered car, driven by a Malaysian Chinese, ferried four other passengers. In the course of the check, ICA officers assessed that the floorboard compartment had been modified, and could be carrying duty unpaid cigarettes. A scan using the Z-backscatter van showed anomalies in the scanned images. The officers' suspicions were proven right when the floorboard was removed.
3. A total of 131 cartons and 140 packets of cigarettes were found in the car. The total market value is estimated to be around S$13,100, while the Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be about S$10,200 and S$914 respectively.
4. When interviewed, the 38-year-old driver said that he was the owner of the car, but claimed that he did not know about the cigarettes. The passengers said that they were a family, and the car was a private taxi that they boarded in Johor Bahru.
Case 2 - Getting to the roof of the problem
5. The second vehicle was a Malaysian-registered van, which arrived at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 5 September 2007, at about 7.35pm. When the Z-backscatter van was used to scan the vehicle, the images showed that something was not quite right with the vehicle. Upon closer checks, the ICA officers spotted signs of cigarettes being hidden in a specially-constructed roof compartment, which was magnetically-shut.
6. A total of 200 cartons of cigarettes were found hidden in the secret compartment. The estimated market value of the cigarettes is about S$18,000, while the Customs duties and GST involved amount to around S$14,100 and S$1,300 respectively.
7. When interviewed, the 33-year-old Malaysian driver said that he would be paid RM$60 if his delivery was successful.
Case 3 - Tobacco, the latest biodiesel
8. The third vehicle, a Malaysian-registered car, arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on 6 September 2007, at around 5.40am. Cartons of cigarettes were swiftly found to be hidden in the modified fuel tank and rear speaker box of the car. Our trusty Z-backscatter van was used to scan the car, more cigarettes were found.
9. The total illicit stash was 156 cartons and 20 packets of cigarettes. The estimated market value of the cigarettes is about S$14,200, while the Customs duties and GST involved amount to around S$11,100 and S$995 respectively.
10. When interviewed, the driver, 25, and his passenger, 23, claimed that they did not know of the cigarettes.
Total market value
11. The total market value of the cigarettes seized in the three cases was about S$45,300.
Referral to Singapore Customs
12. All three cases have been handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Penalties
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.
Security implications of smuggling
14. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA has a duty to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. 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 contraband. 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. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
Case 1 - Floored by the discovery
2. The first vehicle arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on 5 September 2007, at around 4.20pm. The Malaysian-registered car, driven by a Malaysian Chinese, ferried four other passengers. In the course of the check, ICA officers assessed that the floorboard compartment had been modified, and could be carrying duty unpaid cigarettes. A scan using the Z-backscatter van showed anomalies in the scanned images. The officers' suspicions were proven right when the floorboard was removed.
3. A total of 131 cartons and 140 packets of cigarettes were found in the car. The total market value is estimated to be around S$13,100, while the Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be about S$10,200 and S$914 respectively.
4. When interviewed, the 38-year-old driver said that he was the owner of the car, but claimed that he did not know about the cigarettes. The passengers said that they were a family, and the car was a private taxi that they boarded in Johor Bahru.
Case 2 - Getting to the roof of the problem
5. The second vehicle was a Malaysian-registered van, which arrived at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 5 September 2007, at about 7.35pm. When the Z-backscatter van was used to scan the vehicle, the images showed that something was not quite right with the vehicle. Upon closer checks, the ICA officers spotted signs of cigarettes being hidden in a specially-constructed roof compartment, which was magnetically-shut.
6. A total of 200 cartons of cigarettes were found hidden in the secret compartment. The estimated market value of the cigarettes is about S$18,000, while the Customs duties and GST involved amount to around S$14,100 and S$1,300 respectively.
7. When interviewed, the 33-year-old Malaysian driver said that he would be paid RM$60 if his delivery was successful.
Case 3 - Tobacco, the latest biodiesel
8. The third vehicle, a Malaysian-registered car, arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on 6 September 2007, at around 5.40am. Cartons of cigarettes were swiftly found to be hidden in the modified fuel tank and rear speaker box of the car. Our trusty Z-backscatter van was used to scan the car, more cigarettes were found.
9. The total illicit stash was 156 cartons and 20 packets of cigarettes. The estimated market value of the cigarettes is about S$14,200, while the Customs duties and GST involved amount to around S$11,100 and S$995 respectively.
10. When interviewed, the driver, 25, and his passenger, 23, claimed that they did not know of the cigarettes.
Total market value
11. The total market value of the cigarettes seized in the three cases was about S$45,300.
Referral to Singapore Customs
12. All three cases have been handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Penalties
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.
Security implications of smuggling
14. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA has a duty to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. 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 contraband. 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. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.