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ICA Sinks Attempt to Smuggle 2,600 Cartons of Cigarettes Hidden on a Barge
On 22 March 2005 at about 0930 hrs, based on information received, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers from the Coastal Command intercepted a tug boat at the Western Petroleum Anchorage which was heading towards the Pasir Panjang Wharves. ICA officers boarded the tug board that was towing a barge with a few containers and conducted a search.
2 ICA officers inspected the ballast tanks that were lined along the left and right sides of the barge and observed that one of the ballast tanks on the right side of the barge was tampered with. Two of the thirty nuts that secure the opening of the ballast tank were missing and a heavy coil of rope was placed on the opening to conceal and deter ICA officers from opening the cover. The alert officers also observed that the crew members appeared nervous and avoided eye contact when questioned. This further aroused the suspicion of ICA officers.
3 Immediately after berthing at Pasir Panjang Wharves, a thorough search was conducted by ICA officers. When asked to assist in opening the ballast tank, the crew members were uncooperative and claimed that the screws and nuts securing the cover of the ballast tank were jammed and they were unable to open it.
4 ICA officers did not give up and persevered. After much effort, they finally managed to open the cover and went into the ballast tank to find about 2,600 cartons of assorted brands of duty unpaid cigarettes. The value is estimated to be about $247,000. The amount of Customs duty and GST payable is about $207,000 and $12,400 respectively. Subsequent checks revealed that all the containers on the barge were actually empty. Preliminary investigation revealed that the tug boat had intended to discharge the empty containers at Pasir Panjang Wharves before proceeding to Pandan River to berth and to dispose the contrabands.
5 The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of custom duties and Good & Service Tax involved.
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 importation of unlawful goods into Singapore. "The enclosed ballast tank is hot and humid and may even contain poisonous gas. By hiding the contrabands cigarettes in such a hazardous place and placing empty containers on the barge, the smugglers' intentions were to deter and distract officers from searching this area. Whatever the modes of operandi, ICA will continue to leverage on our strong intelligence resources and capability and vigilant officers to nab those who are involved in the activity." said Mr Nam Liang Chia, Commander, Coastal Command.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
23 Mar 2005
2 ICA officers inspected the ballast tanks that were lined along the left and right sides of the barge and observed that one of the ballast tanks on the right side of the barge was tampered with. Two of the thirty nuts that secure the opening of the ballast tank were missing and a heavy coil of rope was placed on the opening to conceal and deter ICA officers from opening the cover. The alert officers also observed that the crew members appeared nervous and avoided eye contact when questioned. This further aroused the suspicion of ICA officers.
3 Immediately after berthing at Pasir Panjang Wharves, a thorough search was conducted by ICA officers. When asked to assist in opening the ballast tank, the crew members were uncooperative and claimed that the screws and nuts securing the cover of the ballast tank were jammed and they were unable to open it.
4 ICA officers did not give up and persevered. After much effort, they finally managed to open the cover and went into the ballast tank to find about 2,600 cartons of assorted brands of duty unpaid cigarettes. The value is estimated to be about $247,000. The amount of Customs duty and GST payable is about $207,000 and $12,400 respectively. Subsequent checks revealed that all the containers on the barge were actually empty. Preliminary investigation revealed that the tug boat had intended to discharge the empty containers at Pasir Panjang Wharves before proceeding to Pandan River to berth and to dispose the contrabands.
5 The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of custom duties and Good & Service Tax involved.
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 importation of unlawful goods into Singapore. "The enclosed ballast tank is hot and humid and may even contain poisonous gas. By hiding the contrabands cigarettes in such a hazardous place and placing empty containers on the barge, the smugglers' intentions were to deter and distract officers from searching this area. Whatever the modes of operandi, ICA will continue to leverage on our strong intelligence resources and capability and vigilant officers to nab those who are involved in the activity." said Mr Nam Liang Chia, Commander, Coastal Command.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
23 Mar 2005