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Do not put all your eggs into one… oil tanker
The smuggler who was caught this morning sure had a diverse portfolio of ‘assets’. The items that he attempted to smuggle include illegal immigrants, cigarettes and eggs – the quantities smuggled are in ascending order.
2. Unfortunately for him, everything was placed in a Malaysian-registered oil tanker. As it entered the Woodlands Checkpoint at around 5.20am this morning, it was stopped and directed for further checks.
The items we found…
3. In the midst of our checks, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) discovered that the tanker was not empty. Inside the tanker, ICA officers found six men hiding among some other goods. By the end of the checks, it was established that the driver was trying to smuggle not just illegal immigrants, but also 500 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 4,500 chicken eggs. The illegal immigrants, aged between 21 and 34 were said to be from Nepal. When interviewed, they claimed that they had paid a syndicate agent between RM2,000 to RM5,000 to smuggle them into Singapore. As for the driver, he is a 46-year-old Malaysian, who said that he was promised an unspecified sum of money if he had successfully smuggled the people and goods into Singapore.
Investigations are ongoing
4. ICA is investigating the driver and the six men for immigration offences. The eggs, which are from unknown source, pose a potential public health threat should they reach the consumer market undetected. The eggs have been handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, while Singapore Customs will be looking into the cigarette-smuggling offences.
Related penalties
5. If convicted, the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. Under the Immigration Act, 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.
6. In the case of illegally importing the eggs, the offenders if convicted, could face a fine of up to $10,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months or to both.
7. For cigarette smuggling, 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.
Potential problems caused by illegal immigrants
8. ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter Singapore, illegal immigrants 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 illegal immigrants to maintain the safety and security of our community.
2. Unfortunately for him, everything was placed in a Malaysian-registered oil tanker. As it entered the Woodlands Checkpoint at around 5.20am this morning, it was stopped and directed for further checks.
The items we found…
3. In the midst of our checks, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) discovered that the tanker was not empty. Inside the tanker, ICA officers found six men hiding among some other goods. By the end of the checks, it was established that the driver was trying to smuggle not just illegal immigrants, but also 500 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 4,500 chicken eggs. The illegal immigrants, aged between 21 and 34 were said to be from Nepal. When interviewed, they claimed that they had paid a syndicate agent between RM2,000 to RM5,000 to smuggle them into Singapore. As for the driver, he is a 46-year-old Malaysian, who said that he was promised an unspecified sum of money if he had successfully smuggled the people and goods into Singapore.
Investigations are ongoing
4. ICA is investigating the driver and the six men for immigration offences. The eggs, which are from unknown source, pose a potential public health threat should they reach the consumer market undetected. The eggs have been handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, while Singapore Customs will be looking into the cigarette-smuggling offences.
Related penalties
5. If convicted, the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. Under the Immigration Act, 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.
6. In the case of illegally importing the eggs, the offenders if convicted, could face a fine of up to $10,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months or to both.
7. For cigarette smuggling, 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.
Potential problems caused by illegal immigrants
8. ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter Singapore, illegal immigrants 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 illegal immigrants to maintain the safety and security of our community.