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73-Year-Old Man’s Smuggling Attempt Foiled at Tuas Checkpoint
A 73-year-old Malaysian man was caught this morning for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes at Tuas checkpoint. He had hidden the cigarettes in various secret compartments in his car to escape detection at the checkpoint. However, his efforts were in vain as checkpoint officers found the 250 cartons of contraband cigarettes that were hidden in his car.
2 On 31 Mar 06 at about 0710 hours, the Malaysian’s car was stopped at the Arrival Car Green Channel for a routine check. The man appeared very nervous when he was interviewed by the officer. This raised the officer’s suspicions and he directed the car to the inspection pit for a thorough check. Two officers joined him to conduct a check on the car. His suspicions were confirmed when he and his colleagues found cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in various parts of the car. The places in which the Malaysian driver had hidden the cigarettes included secret compartments behind the glove compartment and underneath the floorboard of the rear passenger seats. There were also cartons of cigarettes hidden in the front engine compartment. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the car seized.
3 The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved is estimated to be S$17,600 and S$4,900 respectively. The case has been 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.
4 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. In 2005, about 1,600 immigration offenders were arrested at the checkpoints either trying to enter or leave Singapore illegally. ICA also detected about 17,000 cases of contraband-smuggling cases in 2005. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods and persons into and out of Singapore.
2 On 31 Mar 06 at about 0710 hours, the Malaysian’s car was stopped at the Arrival Car Green Channel for a routine check. The man appeared very nervous when he was interviewed by the officer. This raised the officer’s suspicions and he directed the car to the inspection pit for a thorough check. Two officers joined him to conduct a check on the car. His suspicions were confirmed when he and his colleagues found cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in various parts of the car. The places in which the Malaysian driver had hidden the cigarettes included secret compartments behind the glove compartment and underneath the floorboard of the rear passenger seats. There were also cartons of cigarettes hidden in the front engine compartment. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the car seized.
3 The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved is estimated to be S$17,600 and S$4,900 respectively. The case has been 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.
4 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. In 2005, about 1,600 immigration offenders were arrested at the checkpoints either trying to enter or leave Singapore illegally. ICA also detected about 17,000 cases of contraband-smuggling cases in 2005. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods and persons into and out of Singapore.