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Triple Whammy against Cigarettes Baddies
Cigarettes taking a “ride” into Singapore must have found the whole journey unbearable, given the nooks and corners that they were squeezed into ... that is until the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers “liberated” them. And in less than 24 hours, ICA scores a hat trick against the cigarettes smugglers.
Case 1
2 On 1st February 2007 at around 1100 hrs, a Malaysia-registered Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) arriving from Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped by an ICA officer for routine checks.
3 While inspecting the fuel tank, the ICA officer noticed that a bracket nut supporting the fuel tank was loose and decided to take a closer look. Upon opening the fuel tank, cartons of cigarettes were found hidden within. A detailed check on the interior of the vehicle also yielded more cigarettes that were hidden within the dashboard area. A total of about 135 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found.
4 The driver, a 35-year-old Malaysian Indian, and the exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $10,200 and $650 respectively.
Case 2
5 Barely eight hours later, a Singapore-registered bus arriving from Woodlands Checkpoint was detected with 2,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden under the rear seats.
6 Driven by a 64-year-old Singaporean Chinese, the bus arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint at about 1930 hrs and was singled out for checks by ICA officers. An X-ray scan on the vehicle by the Z Backscatter Van confirmed the presence of cigarettes hidden in a compartment beneath the rear seats of the bus.
7 When questioned, the male driver denied knowledge of the cigarettes and claimed that he was hired by a Malaysian man to ferry passengers between Singapore and Johor Bahru. The subject and the exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $140,800 and $9,000 respectively.
Case 3
8 On 2 February 2007 at about 0515 hrs, a Malaysia-registered bus arriving at Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped for a routine check. In the course of the checks, an X-ray scan on the vehicle was conducted by the Z Backscatter Van. The scan confirmed the presence of cigarettes hidden underneath the floorboard of the bus. A total of 2,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes were eventually retrieved by ICA officers.
9 Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver, a jobless 29-year-old Malaysian Chinese, was paid RM1,300 to ferry factory workers. The subject and the exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $140,800 and $9,000 respectively.
Related penalties
10 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
11 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 1st February 2007 at around 1100 hrs, a Malaysia-registered Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) arriving from Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped by an ICA officer for routine checks.
3 While inspecting the fuel tank, the ICA officer noticed that a bracket nut supporting the fuel tank was loose and decided to take a closer look. Upon opening the fuel tank, cartons of cigarettes were found hidden within. A detailed check on the interior of the vehicle also yielded more cigarettes that were hidden within the dashboard area. A total of about 135 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found.
4 The driver, a 35-year-old Malaysian Indian, and the exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $10,200 and $650 respectively.
Case 2
5 Barely eight hours later, a Singapore-registered bus arriving from Woodlands Checkpoint was detected with 2,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden under the rear seats.
6 Driven by a 64-year-old Singaporean Chinese, the bus arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint at about 1930 hrs and was singled out for checks by ICA officers. An X-ray scan on the vehicle by the Z Backscatter Van confirmed the presence of cigarettes hidden in a compartment beneath the rear seats of the bus.
7 When questioned, the male driver denied knowledge of the cigarettes and claimed that he was hired by a Malaysian man to ferry passengers between Singapore and Johor Bahru. The subject and the exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $140,800 and $9,000 respectively.
Case 3
8 On 2 February 2007 at about 0515 hrs, a Malaysia-registered bus arriving at Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped for a routine check. In the course of the checks, an X-ray scan on the vehicle was conducted by the Z Backscatter Van. The scan confirmed the presence of cigarettes hidden underneath the floorboard of the bus. A total of 2,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes were eventually retrieved by ICA officers.
9 Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver, a jobless 29-year-old Malaysian Chinese, was paid RM1,300 to ferry factory workers. The subject and the exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The total Customs duties and GST involved are estimated to be $140,800 and $9,000 respectively.
Related penalties
10 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
11 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.