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"Entrepreneurs" Raided Out-Of-Business
One would have thought that immigration offenders in Singapore would be hiding from the eyes of the authorities, and hard-pressed looking for covet employment opportunities. Not so for a group of overstayers from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), who decided to become "entrepreneurs". The six PRC nationals, together with a Singaporean accomplice were arrested by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers in a raid which found them to be in possession of a large quantity of contraband cigarettes as well as hundreds of VCDs, believed to be uncensored and obscene.
2 On 8 Nov 2005, at about 1300 hrs, ICA officers, acting on intelligence, moved in to the vicinity of 53 Lengkong Empat. A male PRC immigration offender carrying four cartons of contraband cigarettes was swiftly arrested by ICA officers laying in wait. Shortly after, a male Singaporean driver was spotted delivering 200 cartons of cigarettes to a female PRC national in the neighbourhood. He was also promptly apprehended by ICA officers when the female PRC national returned to her apartment with the goods.
3 On the same day, at around 1400 hrs, ICA officers mounted a raid on the apartment at 53 Lengkong Empat. Five PRC nationals (three males and two females), with no valid immigration pass, were found hiding inside the house. More contraband cigarettes as well as a large quantity of VCDs, believed to be uncensored and obscene were also found. Accordingly, the five PRC nationals were arrested and the contraband cigarettes and VCDs seized.
4 The seven arrested subjects were believed to be involved in the sale of contraband cigarettes and uncensored obscene VCDs. The seven subjects and the seized items were subsequently referred to the Singapore Customs for offences under the Customs Act. Once prosecution under the Customs Act has been concluded, the relevant subjects will be referred to the Singapore Police Force for investigations into their immigration offences.
6 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to overstay or enter Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. Under the Film Act (Cap 107), the penalties for possession of obscene materials are a jail term of up to 2 years and/or a fine up S$80,000.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
09 Nov 2005
2 On 8 Nov 2005, at about 1300 hrs, ICA officers, acting on intelligence, moved in to the vicinity of 53 Lengkong Empat. A male PRC immigration offender carrying four cartons of contraband cigarettes was swiftly arrested by ICA officers laying in wait. Shortly after, a male Singaporean driver was spotted delivering 200 cartons of cigarettes to a female PRC national in the neighbourhood. He was also promptly apprehended by ICA officers when the female PRC national returned to her apartment with the goods.
3 On the same day, at around 1400 hrs, ICA officers mounted a raid on the apartment at 53 Lengkong Empat. Five PRC nationals (three males and two females), with no valid immigration pass, were found hiding inside the house. More contraband cigarettes as well as a large quantity of VCDs, believed to be uncensored and obscene were also found. Accordingly, the five PRC nationals were arrested and the contraband cigarettes and VCDs seized.
4 The seven arrested subjects were believed to be involved in the sale of contraband cigarettes and uncensored obscene VCDs. The seven subjects and the seized items were subsequently referred to the Singapore Customs for offences under the Customs Act. Once prosecution under the Customs Act has been concluded, the relevant subjects will be referred to the Singapore Police Force for investigations into their immigration offences.
6 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to overstay or enter Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. Under the Film Act (Cap 107), the penalties for possession of obscene materials are a jail term of up to 2 years and/or a fine up S$80,000.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
09 Nov 2005