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CADS Detected at Land Checkpoints
A man was caught at Tuas Checkpoint on 26 Jun 06 for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes hidden in secret compartments behind the dashboard panel and inside the modified fuel tank. About three hours later, another man was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes and uncensored optical discs into Singapore. The 'smoke-screen' (cigarettes-uncensored movie discs combo) failed him as officers at the checkpoint detected the cigarettes and optical discs hidden in the dashboard and car panels respectively. Their misdeeds uncovered, the CADS (Cigarettes And Discs Smugglers), their vehicles and unlawful goods were handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
Case 1 – 98 cartons x 200 sticks of contraband cigarettes detected
2 On 26 Jun 06 at about 1720 hours, a Malaysia-registered car was stopped at the Arrival Car Green Channel at Tuas Checkpoint for a routine check. Our ICA officers conducted a thorough search, and their efforts paid off when they detected a total of 98 cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in the dashboard panel and the modified fuel tank.
3 The 31-year-old driver, a Malaysian Chinese man admitted that he was promised RM250 to smuggle the contraband cigarettes into Singapore. He was immediately arrested and his vehicle seized. His case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
Case 2 – 1,546 pieces of uncensored optical discs and three cartons of contraband cigarettes uncovered
4 On the same day at about 2000 hrs, a Malaysian Chinese man had his Malaysia-registered car stopped for a routine check at Woodlands checkpoint. An alert checkpoint officer noticed that the 26-year-old driver was very nervous during the check. A thorough search was conducted by the checkpoint officers and they uncovered 1,546 pieces of uncensored optical discs hidden in the two rear passenger door panels. Three cartons of contraband cigarettes were also retrieved from a compartment behind the dashboard panel. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
5 Preliminary investigations revealed that the Malaysian driver was approached by a Malaysian man to carry out the smuggling attempt. He was instructed to drive the car to Toa Payoh Central and was promised RM300 if he was successful in his attempt. The case was referred to Police for further investigation.
6 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
7 The total Customs duties and GST involved for the cigarettes seized in these two cases are about S$7,100 and S$450 respectively. If found guilty, the offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved
8 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. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
Case 1 – 98 cartons x 200 sticks of contraband cigarettes detected
2 On 26 Jun 06 at about 1720 hours, a Malaysia-registered car was stopped at the Arrival Car Green Channel at Tuas Checkpoint for a routine check. Our ICA officers conducted a thorough search, and their efforts paid off when they detected a total of 98 cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in the dashboard panel and the modified fuel tank.
3 The 31-year-old driver, a Malaysian Chinese man admitted that he was promised RM250 to smuggle the contraband cigarettes into Singapore. He was immediately arrested and his vehicle seized. His case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
Case 2 – 1,546 pieces of uncensored optical discs and three cartons of contraband cigarettes uncovered
4 On the same day at about 2000 hrs, a Malaysian Chinese man had his Malaysia-registered car stopped for a routine check at Woodlands checkpoint. An alert checkpoint officer noticed that the 26-year-old driver was very nervous during the check. A thorough search was conducted by the checkpoint officers and they uncovered 1,546 pieces of uncensored optical discs hidden in the two rear passenger door panels. Three cartons of contraband cigarettes were also retrieved from a compartment behind the dashboard panel. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
5 Preliminary investigations revealed that the Malaysian driver was approached by a Malaysian man to carry out the smuggling attempt. He was instructed to drive the car to Toa Payoh Central and was promised RM300 if he was successful in his attempt. The case was referred to Police for further investigation.
6 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
7 The total Customs duties and GST involved for the cigarettes seized in these two cases are about S$7,100 and S$450 respectively. If found guilty, the offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved
8 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. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.