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This is Not the Season for Mooncakes
To everything there is a season. There is a season for eating mooncakes and carrying lanterns but it is not NOW. A male PRC national had tried to smuggle in duty-unpaid cigarettes through Changi Airport by hiding them in two mooncake containers. However, he was stopped in his tracks when an ICA officer found 920 sticks of loose cigarettes hidden in the two metal containers.
2 On 9 Jan 06 at about 2140 hours, the 48-year-old PRC national was stopped by ICA officers for a routine check on his luggage at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Arrival Terminal 1. The man was accompanied by his son, a 24-year-old studying at a local university. Our ICA officer had asked both of them if they had any cigarettes or tobacco products to declare. Both father and son had answered 'no'. Our officer then proceeded to do a physical check on the luggage and found two metal containers purported to contain mooncakes. The officer opened the two metal containers and found 920 sticks of loose cigarettes inside.
3 The man, upon realising that his smuggling attempt had gone up in smoke, admitted that he had bought in the cigarettes for his own consumption. His case was referred to Singapore Customs and was subsequently fined $2,510/-. Offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
4 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 contraband items. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
2 On 9 Jan 06 at about 2140 hours, the 48-year-old PRC national was stopped by ICA officers for a routine check on his luggage at the baggage examination area at Changi Airport, Arrival Terminal 1. The man was accompanied by his son, a 24-year-old studying at a local university. Our ICA officer had asked both of them if they had any cigarettes or tobacco products to declare. Both father and son had answered 'no'. Our officer then proceeded to do a physical check on the luggage and found two metal containers purported to contain mooncakes. The officer opened the two metal containers and found 920 sticks of loose cigarettes inside.
3 The man, upon realising that his smuggling attempt had gone up in smoke, admitted that he had bought in the cigarettes for his own consumption. His case was referred to Singapore Customs and was subsequently fined $2,510/-. Offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
4 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 contraband items. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.