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Drumroll for ICA
ICA sunk two attempts to smuggle contraband cigarettes into Singapore on 13 Feb 06. At about 0610 hours, ICA officers found 150 cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden in some oil drums onboard a wooden coastal vessel docked at the Pasir Panjang Wharf. 20 minutes later, ICA officers found 14 cartons of contraband cigarettes on another wooden vessel that had arrived at the wharf. ICA had been drumming in the message that ICA stands for 'I Check All', and it would do smugglers and would-be offenders a whole lot of good if they had heeded the warning.
2 On 13 Feb 06 at about 0610 hours, ICA officers intercepted and boarded a wooden vessel docked at Pasir Panjang Wharf. During the search, ICA officers noticed that a seaman standing in front of the oil drums was visibly nervous as our officers were checking the vessel. Our observant officers became suspicious and asked him to stand aside for them to check the oil drums. Their suspicions were founded when they found boxes of contraband cigarettes hidden in the drums. A total of 140 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found in the oil drums. The seaman, a 22-year-old Indonesian admitted to ownership of the contraband. He claimed that he was a courier and was handed the contraband cigarettes before he left Batam, Indonesia. He was immediately arrested.
3 20 minutes later at about 0630 hours, another wooden vessel was searched and 14 cartons of cigarettes were found. The 62-year-old Indonesian master and his six Indonesian crew (their ages ranged from 24 to 55) were arrested.
4 The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved for the two cases are estimated to be S$12,000 and S$730 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 2 years, as well as being fined. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded.
5 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 other contraband. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
2 On 13 Feb 06 at about 0610 hours, ICA officers intercepted and boarded a wooden vessel docked at Pasir Panjang Wharf. During the search, ICA officers noticed that a seaman standing in front of the oil drums was visibly nervous as our officers were checking the vessel. Our observant officers became suspicious and asked him to stand aside for them to check the oil drums. Their suspicions were founded when they found boxes of contraband cigarettes hidden in the drums. A total of 140 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found in the oil drums. The seaman, a 22-year-old Indonesian admitted to ownership of the contraband. He claimed that he was a courier and was handed the contraband cigarettes before he left Batam, Indonesia. He was immediately arrested.
3 20 minutes later at about 0630 hours, another wooden vessel was searched and 14 cartons of cigarettes were found. The 62-year-old Indonesian master and his six Indonesian crew (their ages ranged from 24 to 55) were arrested.
4 The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved for the two cases are estimated to be S$12,000 and S$730 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 2 years, as well as being fined. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded.
5 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 other contraband. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.