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Whilst The Nation Celebrates its 41st National Day, These Singaporeans Try to Smuggle Contraband into Singapore
Three Singaporeans were caught in separate incidents for trying to smuggle in contraband cigarettes over the past two days. They probably thought that the whole country was in a celebratory mood and hence checks would be lax at the checkpoints. Little did they know that checkpoint officers demonstrated their commitment and dedication to the country by keeping a close watch at the checkpoints to prevent the smuggling of unlawful persons and goods into Singapore. In the three cases, the smugglers had tried to hide their contraband cigarettes in various parts of their cars. One of the Singaporean smugglers was also found to have attempted to smuggle fresh eggs into Singapore.
Case 1 – Contraband cigarettes in car engine compartment
2 On 9 Aug 06 at about 1935 hours, a Singapore-registered car was stopped by an ICA officer for a routine check at the Arrival Car Green Channel at Woodlands checkpoint. The male Singaporean driver appeared nervous as the officer checked the vehicle. In the course of his search, the alert officer found one carton of cigarettes hidden in the engine compartment. Another two loose packets of contraband cigarettes were found in the 58-year-old man’s trousers. The ICA officer also detected 20 eggs hidden in the spare tyre compartment of the car. The Singaporean man admitted that the cigarettes and eggs were bought in Malaysia and were meant for his and his family’s consumption.
Case 2 – Contraband cigarettes under front passenger seat and spare tyre
3 On 10 Aug 06 at about 0055 hours, an officer at Woodlands checkpoint stopped a Singapore-registered car for a routine check. The car was driven by a 40-year-old Singaporean man and he had a passenger with him, a Singaporean man aged 37. The checkpoint officer uncovered contraband cigarettes hidden under the front passenger seat and proceeded to conduct a thorough search on the two men and the car. In the course of the search, another 23 cartons of cigarettes were found hidden in the spare tyre of the car. The passenger, who is the actual owner of the car, admitted that he had hid the cigarettes in order to evade Customs duties. All in all, a total of 24 cartons x 200 sticks and 20 loose packets x 20 sticks of contraband cigarettes were found.
Case 3 – Contraband cigarettes under rear passenger seat
4 Would-be smugglers had better think twice about trying to smuggle through Tuas checkpoint too. On 10 Aug 06 at about 0655 hours, officers deployed at Tuas checkpoint foiled a Singaporean man’s attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes and tobacco products into Singapore. The two officers discovered 32 loose packets x 20 sticks of cigarettes and three pouches containing tobacco under the rear passenger seat. When questioned, the 42-year-old male Singaporean driver admitted ownership of the contraband.
5 The three cases were referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. 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.
6 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. We would like to warn the public to think twice before they attempt to smuggle unlawful goods illegally into Singapore as our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders.
Case 1 – Contraband cigarettes in car engine compartment
2 On 9 Aug 06 at about 1935 hours, a Singapore-registered car was stopped by an ICA officer for a routine check at the Arrival Car Green Channel at Woodlands checkpoint. The male Singaporean driver appeared nervous as the officer checked the vehicle. In the course of his search, the alert officer found one carton of cigarettes hidden in the engine compartment. Another two loose packets of contraband cigarettes were found in the 58-year-old man’s trousers. The ICA officer also detected 20 eggs hidden in the spare tyre compartment of the car. The Singaporean man admitted that the cigarettes and eggs were bought in Malaysia and were meant for his and his family’s consumption.
Case 2 – Contraband cigarettes under front passenger seat and spare tyre
3 On 10 Aug 06 at about 0055 hours, an officer at Woodlands checkpoint stopped a Singapore-registered car for a routine check. The car was driven by a 40-year-old Singaporean man and he had a passenger with him, a Singaporean man aged 37. The checkpoint officer uncovered contraband cigarettes hidden under the front passenger seat and proceeded to conduct a thorough search on the two men and the car. In the course of the search, another 23 cartons of cigarettes were found hidden in the spare tyre of the car. The passenger, who is the actual owner of the car, admitted that he had hid the cigarettes in order to evade Customs duties. All in all, a total of 24 cartons x 200 sticks and 20 loose packets x 20 sticks of contraband cigarettes were found.
Case 3 – Contraband cigarettes under rear passenger seat
4 Would-be smugglers had better think twice about trying to smuggle through Tuas checkpoint too. On 10 Aug 06 at about 0655 hours, officers deployed at Tuas checkpoint foiled a Singaporean man’s attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes and tobacco products into Singapore. The two officers discovered 32 loose packets x 20 sticks of cigarettes and three pouches containing tobacco under the rear passenger seat. When questioned, the 42-year-old male Singaporean driver admitted ownership of the contraband.
5 The three cases were referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. 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.
6 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. We would like to warn the public to think twice before they attempt to smuggle unlawful goods illegally into Singapore as our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders.