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Cigarettes Smugglers Nabbed Back-to-back
It is amazing what cigarettes smugglers would resort to, in trying to bring duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore. Over the weekend, among many other cases, ICA officers managed to retrieve a total of 2027 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes from the creatively modified compartments of two Malaysia-registered cars.
Case 1
2 On 2 Jun 2007, at about 0725hrs, ICA officers on duty at Woodlands Checkpoint directed an arriving Malaysia-registered car for more detailed checks. Meticulously searching through the vehicle, our officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden beneath the floorboards of both the front and rear passenger seats, as well as the rear bumper of the car.
3 The car was driven by a lone Malaysian Chinese male, aged 45, who claimed to be promised RM$150 upon successful delivery of the cigarettes into Singapore. The customs duty and GST payable is about $7300 and $470 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were subsequently handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 2
4 Barely an hour later, another Malaysia-registered car coming through the same checkpoint was diverted by ICA officers for further checks. In the course of the search, officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a specially constructed compartment under the dashboard and rear passenger sear.
5 The driver, a Malaysian Chinese male, aged 33, admitted knowledge of the exhibits and claimed that he was offered RM$600 for a successful delivery of the cigarettes. The customs duty and GST payable is about $7000 and $450 respectively.
6 The subject was also found to be driving without a valid license, and was accordingly issued with a traffic summon by the Police. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were then handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
7 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
8 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 2 Jun 2007, at about 0725hrs, ICA officers on duty at Woodlands Checkpoint directed an arriving Malaysia-registered car for more detailed checks. Meticulously searching through the vehicle, our officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden beneath the floorboards of both the front and rear passenger seats, as well as the rear bumper of the car.
3 The car was driven by a lone Malaysian Chinese male, aged 45, who claimed to be promised RM$150 upon successful delivery of the cigarettes into Singapore. The customs duty and GST payable is about $7300 and $470 respectively. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were subsequently handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Case 2
4 Barely an hour later, another Malaysia-registered car coming through the same checkpoint was diverted by ICA officers for further checks. In the course of the search, officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a specially constructed compartment under the dashboard and rear passenger sear.
5 The driver, a Malaysian Chinese male, aged 33, admitted knowledge of the exhibits and claimed that he was offered RM$600 for a successful delivery of the cigarettes. The customs duty and GST payable is about $7000 and $450 respectively.
6 The subject was also found to be driving without a valid license, and was accordingly issued with a traffic summon by the Police. The exhibits, vehicle and driver were then handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
7 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
8 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.