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Young Veteran, on Guard!
A cigarette smuggler found out that the joke was on him when he was caught trying to smuggle 260 cartons x 200 sticks of cigarettes in by the strapping young veteran that stands guard at our border 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That young veteran is ICA and he turned one on 1 Apr 04. He has a large arsenal of weapons at his disposal including the MOBIX and fiberscope, to help him prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband.
2 On 1 Apr 04 at about 0610 hours, a Malaysian registered van coming into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint for a routine check. The van driven by a 29-year old Malaysian man was ushered to the MOBIX for screening. During the screening, our officers discovered that there were suspicious images detected in between the floorboard. Our ICA officers drilled a hole underneath the van and a strong whiff of tobacco was immediately detected. The Malaysian man realised the futility of his denial in the face of such incriminating evidence, and admitted that there were cigarettes hidden under the floorboard.
3 The secret compartment under the floorboard was opened and 260 cartons x 200 sticks of duty unpaid cigarettes were found inside. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was promised RM$3,000/- by a buyer in Singapore for the cigarettes. The value of the exhibits is estimated to have a street value of about S$20,300/-. 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.
5 ICA has tightened our security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. In the last one year, we have detected more than 10,000 cases of contraband and illegal goods being imported into Singapore. The cases include offensive weapons, duty-unpaid cigarettes, obscene VCDs, meat products as well as endangered species in wild fauna and flora such as star tortoises and hard corals. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
2 Apr 2004
2 On 1 Apr 04 at about 0610 hours, a Malaysian registered van coming into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint for a routine check. The van driven by a 29-year old Malaysian man was ushered to the MOBIX for screening. During the screening, our officers discovered that there were suspicious images detected in between the floorboard. Our ICA officers drilled a hole underneath the van and a strong whiff of tobacco was immediately detected. The Malaysian man realised the futility of his denial in the face of such incriminating evidence, and admitted that there were cigarettes hidden under the floorboard.
3 The secret compartment under the floorboard was opened and 260 cartons x 200 sticks of duty unpaid cigarettes were found inside. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was promised RM$3,000/- by a buyer in Singapore for the cigarettes. The value of the exhibits is estimated to have a street value of about S$20,300/-. 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.
5 ICA has tightened our security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. In the last one year, we have detected more than 10,000 cases of contraband and illegal goods being imported into Singapore. The cases include offensive weapons, duty-unpaid cigarettes, obscene VCDs, meat products as well as endangered species in wild fauna and flora such as star tortoises and hard corals. We would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
2 Apr 2004