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“Goodies” Onboard Down-town Train
On 27 February 2007, ICA officers seized a total of about 2,125 cartons x 200 sticks of assorted brands of duty-unpaid cigarettes, found concealed in consignments onboard the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train arriving at Woodlands Train Checkpoint from Kuala Lumpur. This is the biggest case of contraband cigarettes detected by ICA officers at WTCP since the operation of the checkpoint in 1999.
2 When the train pulled in at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint at around 0725 hours, consignments declared as “Household Effects”, “TV Racks” and “Computer Tables” were directed by ICA officers for thorough checks. When the consignment declared as “Household Effects” was put through X-ray screening, images bearing a semblance to cartons of cigarettes could be seen. Similar images of cartons of cigarettes were also seen from consignments declared as “TV Racks” and “Computer Tables”.
3 Upon physical examination, duty-unpaid cigarettes were found wrapped in black trash bags in the consignment of “Household Effects”, while more duty-unpaid cigarettes wrapped in foil were found hidden in the consignment declared as “TV Racks” and “Computer Tables”. A total of about 2,125 cartons of assorted brands of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found.
4 The cigarettes were subsequently handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $149,600 and $9560 respectively.
Related penalties
5 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
6 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 When the train pulled in at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint at around 0725 hours, consignments declared as “Household Effects”, “TV Racks” and “Computer Tables” were directed by ICA officers for thorough checks. When the consignment declared as “Household Effects” was put through X-ray screening, images bearing a semblance to cartons of cigarettes could be seen. Similar images of cartons of cigarettes were also seen from consignments declared as “TV Racks” and “Computer Tables”.
3 Upon physical examination, duty-unpaid cigarettes were found wrapped in black trash bags in the consignment of “Household Effects”, while more duty-unpaid cigarettes wrapped in foil were found hidden in the consignment declared as “TV Racks” and “Computer Tables”. A total of about 2,125 cartons of assorted brands of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found.
4 The cigarettes were subsequently handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $149,600 and $9560 respectively.
Related penalties
5 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
6 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.