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Fowl Play Detected At Woodlands Checkpoint
While the World Cup fever hits Singapore, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were busy doing their part in keeping out a more lethal form of ‘fever’ out of Singapore – bird flu.
2. Having received information that an exporter had plans to smuggle frozen ducks from Selangor into Singapore, ICA’s team of officers immediately sprang into action to nab the smugglers before the frozen ducks could enter the local market in Singapore. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) had suspended poultry and egg imports from Selangor in February 2006.
3. Officers from the Woodlands Checkpoint kept a vigilant look-out for the consignment on 20 June 2006. At around 6am, the vehicle, a light blue Malaysian-registered petroleum tanker arrived. The driver had declared that the bulk tank was empty. However, the eagle-eyed ICA officers noticed that the tank was unusually cold. There was also condensation on it.
4. The ICA officers then proceeded to inspect the vehicle and discovered that the bulk tank had been modified. There was no oil found in the tank. Instead, officers saw brown-coloured boxes. Upon opening one of the boxes, officers found frozen ducks packed in it.
5. A total of 276 boxes were uncovered, each containing 5 ducks. The total weight of the ducks was 4,416kg.
6. When interviewed, the driver, a 21-year-old Malaysian male claimed that it was his first attempt to smuggle frozen ducks into Singapore. He was promised a sum of RM$2,500 for each successful trip.
7. The case has been handed over to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigation.
Penalties
8. Under AVA’s regulations, any person who imports, exports or tranships any meat product or fish product without a licence shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000/- or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both and in the case of second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $100,000/- or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Vigilance at the checkpoints
9. Being the guardian of Singapore’s checkpoints, ICA is acutely aware that our borders are the first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s safety and security. The importance of ICA’s work has taken on another dimension as the threat of avian flu and terrorism looms large. ICA now conducts 100 per cent checks on persons, cargo and conveyances that pass through our checkpoints. These enhanced security checks have been effective in helping to detect cases of smuggling illegal conveyances.
2. Having received information that an exporter had plans to smuggle frozen ducks from Selangor into Singapore, ICA’s team of officers immediately sprang into action to nab the smugglers before the frozen ducks could enter the local market in Singapore. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) had suspended poultry and egg imports from Selangor in February 2006.
3. Officers from the Woodlands Checkpoint kept a vigilant look-out for the consignment on 20 June 2006. At around 6am, the vehicle, a light blue Malaysian-registered petroleum tanker arrived. The driver had declared that the bulk tank was empty. However, the eagle-eyed ICA officers noticed that the tank was unusually cold. There was also condensation on it.
4. The ICA officers then proceeded to inspect the vehicle and discovered that the bulk tank had been modified. There was no oil found in the tank. Instead, officers saw brown-coloured boxes. Upon opening one of the boxes, officers found frozen ducks packed in it.
5. A total of 276 boxes were uncovered, each containing 5 ducks. The total weight of the ducks was 4,416kg.
6. When interviewed, the driver, a 21-year-old Malaysian male claimed that it was his first attempt to smuggle frozen ducks into Singapore. He was promised a sum of RM$2,500 for each successful trip.
7. The case has been handed over to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigation.
Penalties
8. Under AVA’s regulations, any person who imports, exports or tranships any meat product or fish product without a licence shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000/- or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both and in the case of second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $100,000/- or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Vigilance at the checkpoints
9. Being the guardian of Singapore’s checkpoints, ICA is acutely aware that our borders are the first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s safety and security. The importance of ICA’s work has taken on another dimension as the threat of avian flu and terrorism looms large. ICA now conducts 100 per cent checks on persons, cargo and conveyances that pass through our checkpoints. These enhanced security checks have been effective in helping to detect cases of smuggling illegal conveyances.