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Four “Creatively Modified” Vehicles Detected in 16 hrs
Motoring enthusiasts like modifying their vehicles to make them more aesthetically pleasing and powerful on the roads. Smugglers proved to be even more creative when it comes to modifying their vehicles and trying to evade checks by the authorities. They had better think twice now. In just about 16 hours, Immigration & Checkpoints (ICA) officers at Woodlands Checkpoint seized four vehicles attempting to smuggle contrabands hidden in secret compartments into the country. About 461 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 2810 pieces of suspected uncensored optical discs were found.
Case 1
2 On 8 Jul 2007, at about 1640 hrs, ICA officers from Woodlands Checkpoint diverted an arriving Malaysia-registered car for further checks at the inspection pit. In the course of the checks, duty-unpaid cigarettes were suspected to be hidden within the vehicle. A scan using the Z-Backscatter van confirmed this.
3 A total of 4 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved from the right door panel of the car. The driver, a Malaysian Indian male aged 35, acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes and claimed that he was intending to resell the cigarettes in Singapore. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $280 and $25 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 2
4 Some thirteen hours later, on 9 Jul 2007 at about 0525 hrs, ICA officers from Woodlands Checkpoint led an arriving Malaysia-registered car for further checks at the inspection pit. The car was driven by a 25 year-old male Malaysian Chinese.
5 Checking through the vehicle, ICA officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the following modified compartments - dashboard, fuel tank, speaker box, and side panels. A total of 121 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved. The driver acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes and claimed that he was paid RM$700 for a successful delivery. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $8500 and $760 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 3
6 Concurrently, over at Woodlands Checkpoint’s Arrival Cargo Bay, a Malaysia-registered truck was also diverted for further checks by ICA officers. The lorry was driven by a lone 39 year-old male Malaysian Chinese.
7 Through meticulous checks, ICA officers discovered a removable floor board in the lorry. Hidden within were 200 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes, as well as 2810 pieces of optical discs, suspected to be uncensored. The driver admitted knowledge of the exhibits found, and was to be paid a sum of RM$600 upon successful delivery. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $14,000 and $1300 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 4
8 Two hours later at about 0740 hrs, another arriving Malaysia-registered car was again diverted by ICA officers for further checks. The car was driven by a 23 year-old male Malaysian Chinese.
9 ICA officers found about 136 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the rear backrest and speaker box of the vehicle. During preliminary investigations, the driver acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes and claimed that he was paid RM$500 for a successful delivery. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $9600 and $860 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
10 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 at our checkpoints
11 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
2 On 8 Jul 2007, at about 1640 hrs, ICA officers from Woodlands Checkpoint diverted an arriving Malaysia-registered car for further checks at the inspection pit. In the course of the checks, duty-unpaid cigarettes were suspected to be hidden within the vehicle. A scan using the Z-Backscatter van confirmed this.
3 A total of 4 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved from the right door panel of the car. The driver, a Malaysian Indian male aged 35, acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes and claimed that he was intending to resell the cigarettes in Singapore. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $280 and $25 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 2
4 Some thirteen hours later, on 9 Jul 2007 at about 0525 hrs, ICA officers from Woodlands Checkpoint led an arriving Malaysia-registered car for further checks at the inspection pit. The car was driven by a 25 year-old male Malaysian Chinese.
5 Checking through the vehicle, ICA officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the following modified compartments - dashboard, fuel tank, speaker box, and side panels. A total of 121 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved. The driver acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes and claimed that he was paid RM$700 for a successful delivery. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $8500 and $760 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 3
6 Concurrently, over at Woodlands Checkpoint’s Arrival Cargo Bay, a Malaysia-registered truck was also diverted for further checks by ICA officers. The lorry was driven by a lone 39 year-old male Malaysian Chinese.
7 Through meticulous checks, ICA officers discovered a removable floor board in the lorry. Hidden within were 200 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes, as well as 2810 pieces of optical discs, suspected to be uncensored. The driver admitted knowledge of the exhibits found, and was to be paid a sum of RM$600 upon successful delivery. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $14,000 and $1300 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 4
8 Two hours later at about 0740 hrs, another arriving Malaysia-registered car was again diverted by ICA officers for further checks. The car was driven by a 23 year-old male Malaysian Chinese.
9 ICA officers found about 136 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the rear backrest and speaker box of the vehicle. During preliminary investigations, the driver acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes and claimed that he was paid RM$500 for a successful delivery. The customs duty and GST payable in this case is estimated to be about $9600 and $860 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
10 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 at our checkpoints
11 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.