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Life Is a Journey, Enjoy the Trip, but Don’t Break the Law
Over the weekend, a sedan, two Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) and two buses were detained for attempting to smuggle illegal items into Singapore. In the real world, unlike the latest animation flick from Pixar, it is the drivers that will have to face the legal consequences if convicted.
Car 1
2. Acting on information received, two Woodlands Task Force officers were on the lookout for a certain Malaysian-registered car for a possible concealment of contrabands in the vehicle. On 17 June 2006, at around 7am, the car arrived. After passing through the Green Channel, the car was stopped and directed for 100 per cent checks.
3. A mere five minutes into the checks, one of the Task Force officers suspected that the car was being tampered with when he examined the rear window of the vehicle. He then proceeded to remove the rear door and found illegal discs concealed. The other officer examined the dashboard of the vehicle and found that it was loose. When he removed it, more discs were uncovered.
4. The driver, a 22-year-old Malaysian was immediately placed under arrest. When interviewed, he admitted knowledge of the discs hidden in the car. He claimed that it was his first attempt in smuggling and he would be paid a sum of RM$250 upon successful delivery.
5. A total of 2,845 pieces of illegal discs were found in the rear door panels and the dashboard of the vehicle. The estimated value of the discs is about S$10,000.
6. The driver and the discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
Car 2
7. Shortly later in the morning, at around 8.20am, officers at the Tuas Checkpoint also had a successful detection. In the course of a routine check on a MPV, the alert auxiliary police officer became suspicious when he saw that the air-conditioning was located inside the dashboard and believed that there was an improvised compartment within the dashboard. When the officer peered into the dashboard, he saw something hidden within. Two narcotics detection dogs were used to search the car. Both dogs indicated that there were illegal goods hidden around the dashboard. When the dashboard was prised open, some 1,964 pieces of illegal discs were discovered. The estimated value of the illegal discs is about $3,200.
8. The driver, a 44-year-old Malaysian, admitted ownership of the items and was immediately placed under arrest. The suspect and the discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
Car 3
9. In the course of routine checks at Tuas Checkpoint, a Malaysian-registered MPV was directed for 100 per cent checks on 16 June 2006 at around 8.40am. After removing the carpet of the vehicle boot, ICA officers found cartons of cigarettes hidden within a secret compartment. Found hidden at the front of the car (beneath the dashboard) were suspected pirated, obscene and uncensored discs.
10. All in all, 74 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were uncovered from the secret compartment, while a total of 3,618 assorted discs were found under the dashboard. The estimated Customs duties and GST payable for the cigarettes are $5,200 and $330 respectively, while the estimated value of the discs is $8,500.
11. When interviewed, the driver, a 39-year-old Malaysian male said that he had borrowed the car from his friend to secure a job in Singapore. He claimed that he was not aware that the vehicle he borrowed had illegal items hidden in it. The duty-unpaid cigarettes were handed over to Singapore Customs, while the illegal discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
Buses
12. Buses are not exempted from security checks. Two drivers learnt this the hard way.
13. On 18 June 2006, at around 10.20am, a Malaysian-registered bus was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint for routine security checks. In the course of the checks, officers noticed that there were a number of drilled holes without screws on the dashboard compartment, next to the driver’s seat. When the cover was lifted, cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seen. Merely ten minutes later, another bus with the same method of conveyance was spotted. The drivers, Malaysian males aged 36 and 42, admitted ownership of the cigarettes found. A total of 300 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved from both vehicles. The estimated Customs duties and GST amounted to S$21,120 and S$1,350 respectively. The case has been handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
Penalties
Smuggling of illegal discs
14. 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.
Smuggling of cigarettes
15. 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.
Vigilance at the checkpoints
16. Being the guardian of Singapore's checkpoints, ICA is acutely aware that our borders are the first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security against possible terrorist attacks. The increased security checks at all our checkpoints are critical to our nation's security, especially since terrorism remains a clear and present threat to Singapore. 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 goods and illegal immigrants. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods and persons into and out of Singapore.
Car 1
2. Acting on information received, two Woodlands Task Force officers were on the lookout for a certain Malaysian-registered car for a possible concealment of contrabands in the vehicle. On 17 June 2006, at around 7am, the car arrived. After passing through the Green Channel, the car was stopped and directed for 100 per cent checks.
3. A mere five minutes into the checks, one of the Task Force officers suspected that the car was being tampered with when he examined the rear window of the vehicle. He then proceeded to remove the rear door and found illegal discs concealed. The other officer examined the dashboard of the vehicle and found that it was loose. When he removed it, more discs were uncovered.
4. The driver, a 22-year-old Malaysian was immediately placed under arrest. When interviewed, he admitted knowledge of the discs hidden in the car. He claimed that it was his first attempt in smuggling and he would be paid a sum of RM$250 upon successful delivery.
5. A total of 2,845 pieces of illegal discs were found in the rear door panels and the dashboard of the vehicle. The estimated value of the discs is about S$10,000.
6. The driver and the discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
Car 2
7. Shortly later in the morning, at around 8.20am, officers at the Tuas Checkpoint also had a successful detection. In the course of a routine check on a MPV, the alert auxiliary police officer became suspicious when he saw that the air-conditioning was located inside the dashboard and believed that there was an improvised compartment within the dashboard. When the officer peered into the dashboard, he saw something hidden within. Two narcotics detection dogs were used to search the car. Both dogs indicated that there were illegal goods hidden around the dashboard. When the dashboard was prised open, some 1,964 pieces of illegal discs were discovered. The estimated value of the illegal discs is about $3,200.
8. The driver, a 44-year-old Malaysian, admitted ownership of the items and was immediately placed under arrest. The suspect and the discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
Car 3
9. In the course of routine checks at Tuas Checkpoint, a Malaysian-registered MPV was directed for 100 per cent checks on 16 June 2006 at around 8.40am. After removing the carpet of the vehicle boot, ICA officers found cartons of cigarettes hidden within a secret compartment. Found hidden at the front of the car (beneath the dashboard) were suspected pirated, obscene and uncensored discs.
10. All in all, 74 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were uncovered from the secret compartment, while a total of 3,618 assorted discs were found under the dashboard. The estimated Customs duties and GST payable for the cigarettes are $5,200 and $330 respectively, while the estimated value of the discs is $8,500.
11. When interviewed, the driver, a 39-year-old Malaysian male said that he had borrowed the car from his friend to secure a job in Singapore. He claimed that he was not aware that the vehicle he borrowed had illegal items hidden in it. The duty-unpaid cigarettes were handed over to Singapore Customs, while the illegal discs were handed over to the Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
Buses
12. Buses are not exempted from security checks. Two drivers learnt this the hard way.
13. On 18 June 2006, at around 10.20am, a Malaysian-registered bus was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint for routine security checks. In the course of the checks, officers noticed that there were a number of drilled holes without screws on the dashboard compartment, next to the driver’s seat. When the cover was lifted, cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seen. Merely ten minutes later, another bus with the same method of conveyance was spotted. The drivers, Malaysian males aged 36 and 42, admitted ownership of the cigarettes found. A total of 300 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved from both vehicles. The estimated Customs duties and GST amounted to S$21,120 and S$1,350 respectively. The case has been handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
Penalties
Smuggling of illegal discs
14. 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.
Smuggling of cigarettes
15. 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.
Vigilance at the checkpoints
16. Being the guardian of Singapore's checkpoints, ICA is acutely aware that our borders are the first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security against possible terrorist attacks. The increased security checks at all our checkpoints are critical to our nation's security, especially since terrorism remains a clear and present threat to Singapore. 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 goods and illegal immigrants. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods and persons into and out of Singapore.