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Snake Skin Sneak-in Stopped by ICA
The case
The snake skins were stuffed in a pillow case, but our officer was not about to be caught sleeping.
2. On 15 December 2006, at around 10am, an officer from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority at Tuas Checkpoint was conducting a routine check on a cargo truck carrying a consignment of liquor. After checking the goods, the officer conducted a check in the driver’s cabin. He came across a pillow and felt that it was oddly solid. He sensed that something was amiss. When the pillow case was unzipped, dried snake skin was found in it.
Snake skin seized
3. Further checks on the vehicle were immediately carried out. More pieces of snake skin were found hidden under the mattress located behind the driver’s seat. All in all, 12 plastic packages containing 75 pieces of snake skin (24.1 kg in all) were found on the vehicle. The snake skin resembled that of a reticulated python’s.
4. When interviewed, the driver and his two attendants (Malaysians aged 28 to 29) admitted knowledge of the contraband items. They were placed under arrest. The case has been handed over to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigation.
Penaltiesss…
5. The reticulated python is a threatened species (ie. Appendix II) protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a party. Under the Singapore’s Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), the export and import of the reptile skins must be accompanied by CITES permits from the exporting and importing countries. Under the ESA, it is an offence for any person to import and export CITES-protected species without a permit from AVA. Upon conviction, the offence can carry a penalty of a fine of up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to 2 years. The illegal specimens would also be forfeited and handed over to AVA.
Python-like grip on border security
6. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA keeps a tight, python-like grip on Singapore’s borders to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We are always tightening our security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. To potential smugglers thinking of bringing unlawful items into Singapore, our advice is… Don’t. Even. Try.
The snake skins were stuffed in a pillow case, but our officer was not about to be caught sleeping.
2. On 15 December 2006, at around 10am, an officer from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority at Tuas Checkpoint was conducting a routine check on a cargo truck carrying a consignment of liquor. After checking the goods, the officer conducted a check in the driver’s cabin. He came across a pillow and felt that it was oddly solid. He sensed that something was amiss. When the pillow case was unzipped, dried snake skin was found in it.
Snake skin seized
3. Further checks on the vehicle were immediately carried out. More pieces of snake skin were found hidden under the mattress located behind the driver’s seat. All in all, 12 plastic packages containing 75 pieces of snake skin (24.1 kg in all) were found on the vehicle. The snake skin resembled that of a reticulated python’s.
4. When interviewed, the driver and his two attendants (Malaysians aged 28 to 29) admitted knowledge of the contraband items. They were placed under arrest. The case has been handed over to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigation.
Penaltiesss…
5. The reticulated python is a threatened species (ie. Appendix II) protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a party. Under the Singapore’s Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), the export and import of the reptile skins must be accompanied by CITES permits from the exporting and importing countries. Under the ESA, it is an offence for any person to import and export CITES-protected species without a permit from AVA. Upon conviction, the offence can carry a penalty of a fine of up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to 2 years. The illegal specimens would also be forfeited and handed over to AVA.
Python-like grip on border security
6. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA keeps a tight, python-like grip on Singapore’s borders to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We are always tightening our security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. To potential smugglers thinking of bringing unlawful items into Singapore, our advice is… Don’t. Even. Try.