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ICA Foiled Another Attempt to Smuggle Illegal Discs and Cigarettes
If the Malaysian smuggler had thought that he could give ICA officers the slip by hiding the illegal discs and cigarettes in a truckload of bananas, he was wrong. On 22 Jun 2004 at around 0205 hrs, ICA officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint detected 1,350 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 19,185 uncensored/obscene discs in a Malaysian-registered truck with the help of the MOBIX (mobile x-ray machine) during a routine check.
2 During the x-ray scanning, our ICA officers noticed suspicious objects among the bananas in the images taken of the truck, even though the truck was supposed to be carrying only bananas. Our officers did a check on the contents of the truck and found a few boxes containing 1,350 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 19,185 pieces of uncensored and obscene discs. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
3 The value of the cigarettes is estimated to be around $26,500. The duty and GST involved is $79,000 and $5,280 respectively. The value of the 19,185 pieces of discs is estimated to be about S$28,780 and the GST involved amounted to $1,440. 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 customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
4 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
5 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. Our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders. We would like to warn the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
22 Jun 2004
2 During the x-ray scanning, our ICA officers noticed suspicious objects among the bananas in the images taken of the truck, even though the truck was supposed to be carrying only bananas. Our officers did a check on the contents of the truck and found a few boxes containing 1,350 cartons x 200 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 19,185 pieces of uncensored and obscene discs. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
3 The value of the cigarettes is estimated to be around $26,500. The duty and GST involved is $79,000 and $5,280 respectively. The value of the 19,185 pieces of discs is estimated to be about S$28,780 and the GST involved amounted to $1,440. 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 customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
4 Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
5 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. Our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders. We would like to warn the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
22 Jun 2004