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Attempt to Smuggle Birds, Beer and Cigarettes Sunk by ICA
On 20 May 2005 at about 0030 hrs, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers from the Coastal Command Anti-Smuggling Team intercepted a pleasure craft at sea off Changi opposite Changi Sailing Club. When interviewed by our officers, the owner, a 56 year-old male Singaporean claimed that the craft had just returned from a fishing trip with only one passenger, a 42 year-old male Singaporean. ICA officers' suspicion was aroused when they discovered that only one fish was caught despite the fact that the vessel was out at sea for about 10 hours, from 1400 hrs on 19 May 2005.
2 A search was conducted and ICA Officers found four metal cages containing live birds in the port side toilet. A further search was conducted and the officers found another seven metal cages and three paper cartons containing live birds at the fore cabin. Officers found that the owner did not have a license from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) to import the birds. The craft was then escorted to Coastal Command HQ at Pulau Brani for more checks.
3 At the Coastal Command HQ, a thorough check of the vessel was conducted and officers detected the following concealed underneath a blue fiberglass box at the fore of the craft:
? seven cartons x 200 sticks of cigarettes,
? seven cartons x 160 sticks of cigarettes, and
? four cartons x 24 cans of beer.
The value of the cigarettes and beer is estimated to be about $170.80 and $96 respectively. The potential duty and Good & Service Tax (GST) for the duty unpaid cigarettes and beer are $1,392.23 and $88.28 respectively. The types and number of the birds found in the cages and cartons are as follow:
? 6,600 Munia birds (estimated value $6,600),
? 6 Leaft birds (estimated value $800), and
? 1 Streak Lory (estimated value $170).
The Streak Lory is an endangered species under appendix 2 of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora).
4 The case has been referred to AVA and Singapore Customs for further investigation. The penalty for smuggling endangered species under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act is a maximum fine of $5,000 per species or jailed for a year or both upon conviction. The penalty for smuggling non-endangered species under the Wild Animals & Birds Act is a maximum fine of $1,000 per bird upon conviction. For smuggling cigarettes and beer, the offender could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of custom duties and GST involved.
5 Preliminary investigation revealed that the owner had obtained port clearance from Maritime and Port Authority for the craft to go to the high sea on 19 May 2005 but no departure immigration clearance was sought. On the return trip to Singapore on 20 May 2005, the owner of the craft had also failed to seek immigration clearance. ICA will be taking action against the owner for the offences under the Immigration Act after the AVA and Singapore Customs have dealt with the case.
6 ICA has stepped up security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent the entry of undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband goods. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
20 May 2005
2 A search was conducted and ICA Officers found four metal cages containing live birds in the port side toilet. A further search was conducted and the officers found another seven metal cages and three paper cartons containing live birds at the fore cabin. Officers found that the owner did not have a license from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) to import the birds. The craft was then escorted to Coastal Command HQ at Pulau Brani for more checks.
3 At the Coastal Command HQ, a thorough check of the vessel was conducted and officers detected the following concealed underneath a blue fiberglass box at the fore of the craft:
? seven cartons x 200 sticks of cigarettes,
? seven cartons x 160 sticks of cigarettes, and
? four cartons x 24 cans of beer.
The value of the cigarettes and beer is estimated to be about $170.80 and $96 respectively. The potential duty and Good & Service Tax (GST) for the duty unpaid cigarettes and beer are $1,392.23 and $88.28 respectively. The types and number of the birds found in the cages and cartons are as follow:
? 6,600 Munia birds (estimated value $6,600),
? 6 Leaft birds (estimated value $800), and
? 1 Streak Lory (estimated value $170).
The Streak Lory is an endangered species under appendix 2 of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora).
4 The case has been referred to AVA and Singapore Customs for further investigation. The penalty for smuggling endangered species under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act is a maximum fine of $5,000 per species or jailed for a year or both upon conviction. The penalty for smuggling non-endangered species under the Wild Animals & Birds Act is a maximum fine of $1,000 per bird upon conviction. For smuggling cigarettes and beer, the offender could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of custom duties and GST involved.
5 Preliminary investigation revealed that the owner had obtained port clearance from Maritime and Port Authority for the craft to go to the high sea on 19 May 2005 but no departure immigration clearance was sought. On the return trip to Singapore on 20 May 2005, the owner of the craft had also failed to seek immigration clearance. ICA will be taking action against the owner for the offences under the Immigration Act after the AVA and Singapore Customs have dealt with the case.
6 ICA has stepped up security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent the entry of undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband goods. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
20 May 2005