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Eagle-Eyed ICA Officers Swooped in on Bird Smuggler
On 13 Feb 06 at about 2000 hours, a Singaporean man was caught by ICA officers at Changi Airport for trying to smuggle in 12 endangered birds – 11 blue-eyed cockatoos and one black-capped lory.
2 The 32-year-old man was stopped by an ICA officer for a routine x-ray screening at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Arrival Terminal 1. The man was reluctant to have his two hand-carried luggage scanned but did so after several reminders. The observant ICA officer noticed some images resembling bodies of birds from the x-ray scan, and requested to check the man’s bags. The man appeared nervous and reluctant. This raised the officer’s suspicions and the officer asked him what was inside the bags. The man replied that the bags contained items of clothing. When one of the bags was opened, our officers found loose feathers and white blue-eyed cockatoos in it. The man got agitated and became very uncooperative. He was immediately arrested. His bags were checked and a total of 11 blue-eyed cockatoos and one black-capped lory were found. The birds were tranquillised and either wrapped in clothings or paper. They were then stuffed into the hand-carried bags. A small half-filled bottle of clear liquid, a syringe and needle were also found in one of his bags.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the Singaporean man had bought the birds from a market in Papua New Guinea. The estimated market value of a blue-eyed cockatoo and a black-capped lory is S$3,500 and S$650 respectively. The man and the illegal birds were handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigation. AVA also confirmed that three of the cockatoos were already dead when they were found.
4 The birds require CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora) permit for import under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act. Offenders in violation of this Act can be fined up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offences) and/or face a jail term of up to one year.
5 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 view of the potential danger of avian flu, we would like to advise the public against the smuggling of birds, poultry and poultry products into Singapore.
2 The 32-year-old man was stopped by an ICA officer for a routine x-ray screening at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Arrival Terminal 1. The man was reluctant to have his two hand-carried luggage scanned but did so after several reminders. The observant ICA officer noticed some images resembling bodies of birds from the x-ray scan, and requested to check the man’s bags. The man appeared nervous and reluctant. This raised the officer’s suspicions and the officer asked him what was inside the bags. The man replied that the bags contained items of clothing. When one of the bags was opened, our officers found loose feathers and white blue-eyed cockatoos in it. The man got agitated and became very uncooperative. He was immediately arrested. His bags were checked and a total of 11 blue-eyed cockatoos and one black-capped lory were found. The birds were tranquillised and either wrapped in clothings or paper. They were then stuffed into the hand-carried bags. A small half-filled bottle of clear liquid, a syringe and needle were also found in one of his bags.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the Singaporean man had bought the birds from a market in Papua New Guinea. The estimated market value of a blue-eyed cockatoo and a black-capped lory is S$3,500 and S$650 respectively. The man and the illegal birds were handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigation. AVA also confirmed that three of the cockatoos were already dead when they were found.
4 The birds require CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora) permit for import under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act. Offenders in violation of this Act can be fined up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offences) and/or face a jail term of up to one year.
5 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 view of the potential danger of avian flu, we would like to advise the public against the smuggling of birds, poultry and poultry products into Singapore.