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Air-con? Sorry, we’re not conned
The latest cigarette smuggler caught by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) tried to con our officers into letting him through, but the ICA officers were not con-vinced by his lies.
How the cigarettes were con-cealed
2. The Malaysian-registered bus arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on 3 September 2007, at around 4.20am. In the course of ICA’s routine checks, the driver appeared nervous and was uncertain as to where his destination was. This aroused our officers’ suspicions. In about ten minutes, the ICA officers found out the reason for his nervousness. Cartons of cigarettes were found hidden within modified air-conditioning and speaker compartments. A total of 1,049 cartons were seized. The total market value is estimated to be around S$94,400, while the Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be about S$73,800 and S$6,600 respectively. When interviewed, the driver, a 33-year-old Malaysian male, admitted that he knew that there were cigarettes hidden on the bus. He claimed that he was promised a sum of RM$500 for successful delivery.
3. The case has been handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations.
If con-victed
4. 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.
ICA’s con-cern for Singapore’s security
5. 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.
How the cigarettes were con-cealed
2. The Malaysian-registered bus arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on 3 September 2007, at around 4.20am. In the course of ICA’s routine checks, the driver appeared nervous and was uncertain as to where his destination was. This aroused our officers’ suspicions. In about ten minutes, the ICA officers found out the reason for his nervousness. Cartons of cigarettes were found hidden within modified air-conditioning and speaker compartments. A total of 1,049 cartons were seized. The total market value is estimated to be around S$94,400, while the Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be about S$73,800 and S$6,600 respectively. When interviewed, the driver, a 33-year-old Malaysian male, admitted that he knew that there were cigarettes hidden on the bus. He claimed that he was promised a sum of RM$500 for successful delivery.
3. The case has been handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations.
If con-victed
4. 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.
ICA’s con-cern for Singapore’s security
5. 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.