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Smoking Wok Detected at Changi Airport
To our officers at the Airport Command, the latest smuggling case was another kettle of fish compared to the smuggling attempts uncovered so far.
2. On 16 November 2005 at around 4.30pm, a female Singaporean, accompanied by her Vietnamese male friend had arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 1 from Ho Chi Minh City. They were directed by our officers to load their bags for x-ray screening. Before their bags went through the machine, our officer asked them if they had anything to declare. Both travellers said "no". The officer who was manning the machine noticed that there were cigarette-like images in the bags. When asked whom the bags belonged to, the Singaporean female, aged 56, said that they were hers. She was then directed for further checks.
3. Our officers proceeded to conduct physical checks on the bags and found some cigarettes hidden in a wok that was bubble-wrapped. More cigarettes were found as the checks progressed. The cigarettes were found in a myriad of places, including within an electric kettle, amongst clothing and medication. Two cartons were also wrapped with a velvet cloth and an orange chamois. A total of 8 cartons and 72 packs of cigarettes of assorted brands were found.
4. The Singaporean female admitted ownership to all the cigarettes and said that she had brought them into Singapore for her daughter's and her own consumption. She had bought some of the cigarettes when she was leaving Singapore, while 6 cartons were given to her by her Vietnamese friends. The rest of the cigarettes were bought during her stay in Vietnam.
5. The customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved for this case are estimated to be S$1,070.10 and S$68.40 respectively. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offender could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
6. ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. Mr Tan Poh Kee, Commander of Airport Command reiterated ICA's commitment to secure Singapore's borders against undesirable conveyances. "Smugglers are always trying to vary their methods of conveyance and second-guess the areas our officers are less likely to check. They are usually proven wrong. In this case, the smuggler had wrapped the cigarettes in bubble-wrap, velvet cloth and chamois, presumably thinking that our officers would not remove the wrapping for further checks. Of course, they are proven wrong. Our officers will remove protective or gift wrappers if necessary," he said.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
17 November 2005
2. On 16 November 2005 at around 4.30pm, a female Singaporean, accompanied by her Vietnamese male friend had arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 1 from Ho Chi Minh City. They were directed by our officers to load their bags for x-ray screening. Before their bags went through the machine, our officer asked them if they had anything to declare. Both travellers said "no". The officer who was manning the machine noticed that there were cigarette-like images in the bags. When asked whom the bags belonged to, the Singaporean female, aged 56, said that they were hers. She was then directed for further checks.
3. Our officers proceeded to conduct physical checks on the bags and found some cigarettes hidden in a wok that was bubble-wrapped. More cigarettes were found as the checks progressed. The cigarettes were found in a myriad of places, including within an electric kettle, amongst clothing and medication. Two cartons were also wrapped with a velvet cloth and an orange chamois. A total of 8 cartons and 72 packs of cigarettes of assorted brands were found.
4. The Singaporean female admitted ownership to all the cigarettes and said that she had brought them into Singapore for her daughter's and her own consumption. She had bought some of the cigarettes when she was leaving Singapore, while 6 cartons were given to her by her Vietnamese friends. The rest of the cigarettes were bought during her stay in Vietnam.
5. The customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved for this case are estimated to be S$1,070.10 and S$68.40 respectively. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offender could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
6. ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. Mr Tan Poh Kee, Commander of Airport Command reiterated ICA's commitment to secure Singapore's borders against undesirable conveyances. "Smugglers are always trying to vary their methods of conveyance and second-guess the areas our officers are less likely to check. They are usually proven wrong. In this case, the smuggler had wrapped the cigarettes in bubble-wrap, velvet cloth and chamois, presumably thinking that our officers would not remove the wrapping for further checks. Of course, they are proven wrong. Our officers will remove protective or gift wrappers if necessary," he said.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
17 November 2005