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“Charlie’s Three Angels” Busted Within Half-hour
In the Hollywood hit movie, Charlie’s Angels, the three ladies under the charge of Charlie were all highly-trained agents who always managed to dodge bullets, evade traps and emerge from highly dangerous situations, seemingly unscathed. Not so here, at the Woodlands Checkpoint, when smuggling attempts by three “Charlie’s Angels” were busted by ICA officers one after another, all within the span of half-an-hour.
2 On 27 Feb 2007, at about 1100hrs, a Malaysia-registered MPV arriving at Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped by ICA officers and directed for more thorough checks. Duty-unpaid cigarettes were found hidden within the dashboard and a modified fuel tank of the vehicle. The driver was a female Malay Malaysian aged 20.
3 Five minutes later at about 1105hrs, another Malaysia-registered MPV was stopped by keen-eyed ICA officers and directed for more thorough checks as well. Duty-unpaid cigarettes were similarly found hidden within the dashboard and a modified fuel tank of the vehicle. The driver was a female Malay Malaysian aged 34.
4 At about 1130hrs, another Malaysia-registered MPV was directed by ICA officers for thorough inspections. Like the previous two cases, duty-unpaid cigarettes were found hidden within the dashboard and a modified fuel tank of the vehicle. The driver was a female Malay Malaysian aged 19.
5 All three female drivers were arrested immediately, and the total haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes amounted to about 400 cartons x 200 sticks. Preliminary investigations revealed that all three females were recruited by the same “boss” in Malaysia. Acting as “couriers”, they would have separately earned about RM$250 for each successful delivery.
6 The three subjects and the exhibits were subsequently handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs Duties and GST payable was estimated at about $27,350 and $1750 respectively.
Related penalties
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.
2 On 27 Feb 2007, at about 1100hrs, a Malaysia-registered MPV arriving at Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped by ICA officers and directed for more thorough checks. Duty-unpaid cigarettes were found hidden within the dashboard and a modified fuel tank of the vehicle. The driver was a female Malay Malaysian aged 20.
3 Five minutes later at about 1105hrs, another Malaysia-registered MPV was stopped by keen-eyed ICA officers and directed for more thorough checks as well. Duty-unpaid cigarettes were similarly found hidden within the dashboard and a modified fuel tank of the vehicle. The driver was a female Malay Malaysian aged 34.
4 At about 1130hrs, another Malaysia-registered MPV was directed by ICA officers for thorough inspections. Like the previous two cases, duty-unpaid cigarettes were found hidden within the dashboard and a modified fuel tank of the vehicle. The driver was a female Malay Malaysian aged 19.
5 All three female drivers were arrested immediately, and the total haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes amounted to about 400 cartons x 200 sticks. Preliminary investigations revealed that all three females were recruited by the same “boss” in Malaysia. Acting as “couriers”, they would have separately earned about RM$250 for each successful delivery.
6 The three subjects and the exhibits were subsequently handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs Duties and GST payable was estimated at about $27,350 and $1750 respectively.
Related penalties
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.