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ICA Smoked Out Attempt to Smuggle Contraband Cigarettes
With the help of the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS), ICA officers foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes into Singapore.
2 On 19 July 2006 at about 1830 hours, a 20-foot container declared to contain 660 units of inkjet printers was diverted to the ICA Pasir Panjang Scanning Station for radiographic scanning by the VACIS. Upon analysis of the image taken of the container, ICA officers discovered that there was more than one type of goods in the container. This aroused our officers’ suspicion and they decided to check the container physically. There was no inkjet printer greeting the officer when he opened the container. Instead, our officers found boxes of contraband cigarettes stacked inside the container. Some boxes containing porcelain bowls were also found in the container. All in all, a total of 11550 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found together with 7,200 pieces of porcelain bowls in the container.
3 The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved is estimated to be $813,120 and $52,000 respectively. The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. Investigations are underway.
4 Singapore Customs warns that storing, possession, conveying or dealing with any contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs Act. First time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded. For the second and subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to 2 years, as well as being fined. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. Members of the public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of customs duty or GST may contact Singapore Customs Intelligence hotline at 1800-2330000 or email to [email protected] Members of the public are advised against buying duty-unpaid cigarettes. Those caught buying or having in their possession duty-unpaid cigarettes stand to face severe penalties.
5 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 contraband items.
2 On 19 July 2006 at about 1830 hours, a 20-foot container declared to contain 660 units of inkjet printers was diverted to the ICA Pasir Panjang Scanning Station for radiographic scanning by the VACIS. Upon analysis of the image taken of the container, ICA officers discovered that there was more than one type of goods in the container. This aroused our officers’ suspicion and they decided to check the container physically. There was no inkjet printer greeting the officer when he opened the container. Instead, our officers found boxes of contraband cigarettes stacked inside the container. Some boxes containing porcelain bowls were also found in the container. All in all, a total of 11550 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found together with 7,200 pieces of porcelain bowls in the container.
3 The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved is estimated to be $813,120 and $52,000 respectively. The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. Investigations are underway.
4 Singapore Customs warns that storing, possession, conveying or dealing with any contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs Act. First time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded. For the second and subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to 2 years, as well as being fined. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. Members of the public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of customs duty or GST may contact Singapore Customs Intelligence hotline at 1800-2330000 or email to [email protected] Members of the public are advised against buying duty-unpaid cigarettes. Those caught buying or having in their possession duty-unpaid cigarettes stand to face severe penalties.
5 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 contraband items.