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Stepped-Up Checks at Checkpoints and Tough Inland Enforcement Yield Results
As our country's border-security agency, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) plays a vital role in preventing attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and contraband items. Stepped-up checks on all travellers, vehicles and conveyances passing through the checkpoints coupled with tough inland enforcement against immigration offenders have yielded results in the first half of 2005.
Smuggling of Contraband and Illegal Goods
2 Between January to June 2005, ICA detected more than 7,000 cases of contraband and illegal goods being imported into Singapore, compared to the 8,000 cases over the same period last year. These include 115 attempts to smuggle security items through the checkpoints. These include handcuffs, stun guns, air guns and daggers. Other cases include the unauthorised importation of controlled drugs, cigarettes and obscene items. Illegally smuggled cigarettes saw more than a 100% increase from the previous year, with more than 120,000 packets detected in the first half of 2005 alone. We have also thwarted attempts to smuggle leather products as well as endangered species listed under the Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES).
3 At our checkpoints, we have a robust inspection process leveraging on technology to screen and detect undesirable persons and goods coming through our checkpoints. We have the Integrated Cargo Inspection System, a radiographic scanner that is integrated with a secondary scanner that could detect the presence of radioactive materials that are necessary for making nuclear or dirty bombs. Other equipment such as the optical fibrescope and handheld explosive detector are already in place and have helped ICA to be more efficient and effective in carrying out its duties.
4 Security at the Land checkpoints will be further enhanced when crash barriers and heavy-duty cat-claws are installed later this year. To stop determined vehicles from dashing in and out of the country without stopping for immigration and security clearance, these crash barriers and cat-claws will be installed at the exit and entry points of the checkpoints. ICA is always on the look out for new technologies that can be deployed to beef up our security and screening capabilities.
Immigration Offenders
Illegal Immigrants
5 Tough inland enforcement actions and security checks have effectively deterred the number of illegal immigrants attempting entry into Singapore. In the first six months of this year, 195 persons were arrested at the checkpoints for trying to enter or leave Singapore illegally, as compared to 201 during the same period last year. A similar decline was also observed in the total number of illegal immigrants arrested in the first six months of this year (2,470) over the same period last year (3,030). Please see Annex for more details.
6 The number of vehicles seized for smuggling of illegal offenders has fallen as a result of the enhanced checks at our checkpoints. From 17 vehicles seized in the first half-year of 2004, the number now stands at a mere three.
Overstayers
7 The number of overstayers in Singapore has also seen a slight drop from last year. Between January to June 2005, a total of 3,150 overstayers were arrested by ICA.
Harbourers and Employers of immigration offenders
8 Harbourers and employers of immigration offenders also saw a decline in numbers. For the first half of 2005, 90 persons were arrested for harbouring and 80 were arrested for illegal employment.
9 ICA attributes this decline to its on-going publicity and public education programmes. Besides the distribution of pamphlets and posters to the residential areas, ICA also took part in public exhibitions and conducted talks with grassroots leaders and housing agents. This has brought about greater public awareness of immigration offences like harbouring and illegal employment of immigration offenders. With the public being better informed of the resulting penalties and consequences, there is now an increased awareness not to run afoul of the law.
A Part for Everyone
10 Immigration offenders pose potential law and order problems in Singapore. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring the security and safety of Singapore. Singaporeans should not employ or harbour immigration offenders. Without a job or shelter, these immigration offenders will not find it attractive to come to Singapore. We urge members of public with information regarding immigration offenders to call ICA at Tel: 1800-391 6150 or contact the Police.
11 When in doubt about the status of their prospective tenants, homeowners and housing agents can make use of VERIFI (VERIfication of Foreigner Immigration Status) and iCHECK (Identity Card Checking Facility) to verify the immigration passes and NRICs of their prospective tenants respectively. The VERIFI and iCHECK services are available at ICA's website: http://www.ica.gov.sg. Similarly, MOM has a system to allow the checking on the validity of work passes at its website: http://www.mom.gov.sg.
12 ICA remains highly committed in ensuring that the intensified checks at the checkpoints, our enforcement initiatives islandwide, as well as our enhanced technology capabilities continue to yield positive results. We will continue to ensure that our officers perform their duties with a high level vigilance and professionalism, so as to make Singapore a safe and secure best home.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
16 August 2005
Annex
SNAPSHOT OF IMMIGRATION OFFENDERS STATISTICS
Number of Immigration Offenders Arrested from 2003 to Jun 2005
Year Illegal immigrants Overstayers Total number of Immigration offenders
2003 5,510 6,340 11,850
2004 5,400 6,390 11,790
2004 (Jan - Jun) 3,030 3,280 6,310
2005 (Jan - Jun) 2,470 3,150 5,620
Number of Harbourers and Employers Arrested from 2003 to Jun 2005
Year Harbourers Employers Total
2003 330 270 600
2004 250 220 470
2004 (Jan - Jun) 150 110 260
2005 (Jan - Jun) 90 80 170
Number of Vehicles Seized from 2003 to Jun 2005
Year Number of Vehicles Seized
2003 17
2004 20
2004 (Jan - Jun) 17
2005 (Jan - Jun) 3
Smuggling of Contraband and Illegal Goods
2 Between January to June 2005, ICA detected more than 7,000 cases of contraband and illegal goods being imported into Singapore, compared to the 8,000 cases over the same period last year. These include 115 attempts to smuggle security items through the checkpoints. These include handcuffs, stun guns, air guns and daggers. Other cases include the unauthorised importation of controlled drugs, cigarettes and obscene items. Illegally smuggled cigarettes saw more than a 100% increase from the previous year, with more than 120,000 packets detected in the first half of 2005 alone. We have also thwarted attempts to smuggle leather products as well as endangered species listed under the Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES).
3 At our checkpoints, we have a robust inspection process leveraging on technology to screen and detect undesirable persons and goods coming through our checkpoints. We have the Integrated Cargo Inspection System, a radiographic scanner that is integrated with a secondary scanner that could detect the presence of radioactive materials that are necessary for making nuclear or dirty bombs. Other equipment such as the optical fibrescope and handheld explosive detector are already in place and have helped ICA to be more efficient and effective in carrying out its duties.
4 Security at the Land checkpoints will be further enhanced when crash barriers and heavy-duty cat-claws are installed later this year. To stop determined vehicles from dashing in and out of the country without stopping for immigration and security clearance, these crash barriers and cat-claws will be installed at the exit and entry points of the checkpoints. ICA is always on the look out for new technologies that can be deployed to beef up our security and screening capabilities.
Immigration Offenders
Illegal Immigrants
5 Tough inland enforcement actions and security checks have effectively deterred the number of illegal immigrants attempting entry into Singapore. In the first six months of this year, 195 persons were arrested at the checkpoints for trying to enter or leave Singapore illegally, as compared to 201 during the same period last year. A similar decline was also observed in the total number of illegal immigrants arrested in the first six months of this year (2,470) over the same period last year (3,030). Please see Annex for more details.
6 The number of vehicles seized for smuggling of illegal offenders has fallen as a result of the enhanced checks at our checkpoints. From 17 vehicles seized in the first half-year of 2004, the number now stands at a mere three.
Overstayers
7 The number of overstayers in Singapore has also seen a slight drop from last year. Between January to June 2005, a total of 3,150 overstayers were arrested by ICA.
Harbourers and Employers of immigration offenders
8 Harbourers and employers of immigration offenders also saw a decline in numbers. For the first half of 2005, 90 persons were arrested for harbouring and 80 were arrested for illegal employment.
9 ICA attributes this decline to its on-going publicity and public education programmes. Besides the distribution of pamphlets and posters to the residential areas, ICA also took part in public exhibitions and conducted talks with grassroots leaders and housing agents. This has brought about greater public awareness of immigration offences like harbouring and illegal employment of immigration offenders. With the public being better informed of the resulting penalties and consequences, there is now an increased awareness not to run afoul of the law.
A Part for Everyone
10 Immigration offenders pose potential law and order problems in Singapore. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring the security and safety of Singapore. Singaporeans should not employ or harbour immigration offenders. Without a job or shelter, these immigration offenders will not find it attractive to come to Singapore. We urge members of public with information regarding immigration offenders to call ICA at Tel: 1800-391 6150 or contact the Police.
11 When in doubt about the status of their prospective tenants, homeowners and housing agents can make use of VERIFI (VERIfication of Foreigner Immigration Status) and iCHECK (Identity Card Checking Facility) to verify the immigration passes and NRICs of their prospective tenants respectively. The VERIFI and iCHECK services are available at ICA's website: http://www.ica.gov.sg. Similarly, MOM has a system to allow the checking on the validity of work passes at its website: http://www.mom.gov.sg.
12 ICA remains highly committed in ensuring that the intensified checks at the checkpoints, our enforcement initiatives islandwide, as well as our enhanced technology capabilities continue to yield positive results. We will continue to ensure that our officers perform their duties with a high level vigilance and professionalism, so as to make Singapore a safe and secure best home.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
16 August 2005
Annex
SNAPSHOT OF IMMIGRATION OFFENDERS STATISTICS
Number of Immigration Offenders Arrested from 2003 to Jun 2005
Year Illegal immigrants Overstayers Total number of Immigration offenders
2003 5,510 6,340 11,850
2004 5,400 6,390 11,790
2004 (Jan - Jun) 3,030 3,280 6,310
2005 (Jan - Jun) 2,470 3,150 5,620
Number of Harbourers and Employers Arrested from 2003 to Jun 2005
Year Harbourers Employers Total
2003 330 270 600
2004 250 220 470
2004 (Jan - Jun) 150 110 260
2005 (Jan - Jun) 90 80 170
Number of Vehicles Seized from 2003 to Jun 2005
Year Number of Vehicles Seized
2003 17
2004 20
2004 (Jan - Jun) 17
2005 (Jan - Jun) 3