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“Skeletons in the Closet”
On 14 Jun 2007, at about 1430 hrs, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint stopped a departing Malaysia-registered 40-foot container trailer for further checks. The trailer was driven by a 40 year-old male Malaysian Indian.
2 As part of the checks, the container was opened up for a search. Moving deep among the many cartons of wrapped-up and stacked electronic parts, a male Bangladeshi national was found hiding behind the cartons. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 25 year-old Bangladeshi national did not possess a travel document and was later established to be an illegal immigrant. He claimed to have paid the driver S$200 to help in his illegal departure. The driver also admitted that he was paid to convey the Bangladeshi national illegally out of Singapore and the $200 cash was found in his possession.
3 The two subjects were arrested by ICA and brought back for further investigations. The vehicle was also detained.
Security at our checkpoints
4 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The smuggler faces a mandatory minimum jail term of 2 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane.
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.
2 As part of the checks, the container was opened up for a search. Moving deep among the many cartons of wrapped-up and stacked electronic parts, a male Bangladeshi national was found hiding behind the cartons. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 25 year-old Bangladeshi national did not possess a travel document and was later established to be an illegal immigrant. He claimed to have paid the driver S$200 to help in his illegal departure. The driver also admitted that he was paid to convey the Bangladeshi national illegally out of Singapore and the $200 cash was found in his possession.
3 The two subjects were arrested by ICA and brought back for further investigations. The vehicle was also detained.
Security at our checkpoints
4 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The smuggler faces a mandatory minimum jail term of 2 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane.
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.