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Drugs, VCDs, Cigarettes & Forged Endorsements ……
Singapore's land checkpoints are among the busiest in the world, with more than 100,000 travellers entering and departing Singapore each way daily. To be able to effectively sieve out the contrabands and prohibited items from among the travellers who bring along with them a wide array of goods and personal items, is no mean feat. The Immigration & Checkpoints (ICA) officers from Woodlands Checkpoint put their training and skills to good use, when they smashed a variety of smuggling attempts, all within a day's work.
Case 1
2 On 14 May 2007, at about 1510hrs, three male Sri Lankan subjects presented themselves for immigration clearance at the arrival bus hall at Woodlands Checkpoint. Aged between 21 - 45 years old, the subjects' passports were found by ICA officers to contain forged Malaysia and Sri Lankan immigration endorsements. The three subjects were referred to the duty office for further checks. When questioned, the subjects claimed that they had paid a total of about RM$14,000 to a Sri Lankan national in Malaysia for the forged endorsements found in their passports.
3 In the course of the interview, ICA officers also managed to gather sufficient information in apprehending a 34-year old Malaysian subject, who was in the vicinity of Woodlands Checkpoint. Preliminary investigations revealed that the Malaysian male had full knowledge of the three Sri Lankan's forged endorsements and accepted monetary payments from them in return for ferrying them into Singapore. All four subjects and their passports were subsequently handed over to the Malaysian Immigration Authorities.
Case 2
4 Later in the night at about 2310hrs, a Malaysia-registered car arriving at the Woodlands Checkpoint was directed for further checks. Within the taxi was a lone Chinese Malaysian lady, aged 29.
5 In the course of the checks, 21 pieces of uncensored DVDs were found hidden at her waist area, concealed by her clothing. A search on her bag found an envelope containing some drugs. A total of 12 ecstasy tablets, 10 pieces of Erimin-5, as well as two 5-grams sachet of white substance - believed to be controlled drugs, were retrieved. Nothing incriminating was found on the taxi driver and the vehicle.
6 When questioned, the lady claimed ownership of the DVDs, but denied knowledge of the drugs. Both the 48-year old Malaysian driver and the lady passenger were subsequently referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.
7 For the illegal importation of controlled drugs, convicted subjects can face a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment.
8 Under the Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
Case 3
9 Into the early morning of 15 May 2007, at about 0520hrs, ICA officers from the Woodlands Checkpoint stopped a Malaysia-registered MPV, and diverted it for more thorough checks. The vehicle was driven by a 30-year old Malaysian Chinese.
10 Meticulous checks by the officers found anomalies in the dashboard and fuel tank. This was immediately confirmed with the use of the Z-backscatter van. A total of 120 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were subsequently retrieved from the modified dashboard and fuel tank of the vehicle.
11 When questioned, the driver admitted knowledge of the exhibits, but claimed that he was just acting as a runner, earning a sum of SGD$150 for each successful delivery. The total Customs Duties and GST payable was estimated at about $845 and $54 respectively. The driver and exhibits were subsequently referred to Singapore Customs for investigations.
12 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
13 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 14 May 2007, at about 1510hrs, three male Sri Lankan subjects presented themselves for immigration clearance at the arrival bus hall at Woodlands Checkpoint. Aged between 21 - 45 years old, the subjects' passports were found by ICA officers to contain forged Malaysia and Sri Lankan immigration endorsements. The three subjects were referred to the duty office for further checks. When questioned, the subjects claimed that they had paid a total of about RM$14,000 to a Sri Lankan national in Malaysia for the forged endorsements found in their passports.
3 In the course of the interview, ICA officers also managed to gather sufficient information in apprehending a 34-year old Malaysian subject, who was in the vicinity of Woodlands Checkpoint. Preliminary investigations revealed that the Malaysian male had full knowledge of the three Sri Lankan's forged endorsements and accepted monetary payments from them in return for ferrying them into Singapore. All four subjects and their passports were subsequently handed over to the Malaysian Immigration Authorities.
Case 2
4 Later in the night at about 2310hrs, a Malaysia-registered car arriving at the Woodlands Checkpoint was directed for further checks. Within the taxi was a lone Chinese Malaysian lady, aged 29.
5 In the course of the checks, 21 pieces of uncensored DVDs were found hidden at her waist area, concealed by her clothing. A search on her bag found an envelope containing some drugs. A total of 12 ecstasy tablets, 10 pieces of Erimin-5, as well as two 5-grams sachet of white substance - believed to be controlled drugs, were retrieved. Nothing incriminating was found on the taxi driver and the vehicle.
6 When questioned, the lady claimed ownership of the DVDs, but denied knowledge of the drugs. Both the 48-year old Malaysian driver and the lady passenger were subsequently referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.
7 For the illegal importation of controlled drugs, convicted subjects can face a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment.
8 Under the Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
Case 3
9 Into the early morning of 15 May 2007, at about 0520hrs, ICA officers from the Woodlands Checkpoint stopped a Malaysia-registered MPV, and diverted it for more thorough checks. The vehicle was driven by a 30-year old Malaysian Chinese.
10 Meticulous checks by the officers found anomalies in the dashboard and fuel tank. This was immediately confirmed with the use of the Z-backscatter van. A total of 120 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were subsequently retrieved from the modified dashboard and fuel tank of the vehicle.
11 When questioned, the driver admitted knowledge of the exhibits, but claimed that he was just acting as a runner, earning a sum of SGD$150 for each successful delivery. The total Customs Duties and GST payable was estimated at about $845 and $54 respectively. The driver and exhibits were subsequently referred to Singapore Customs for investigations.
12 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
13 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.