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ICA's Vacis Sees 'Red' Over Container Carrying 'Ordinary' Wood Logs
With the help of the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS), ICA officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 'Red Sanders' into Singapore. Pterocarpus Santalinus, commonly known as 'Red Sanders' is listed as a controlled item under the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species in Wild fauna and Flora (CITES).
2 On 17 Mar 2004 at about 1400 hours, a 40-foot container declared to contain ordinary wood logs was diverted to the ICA Tanjong Pagar Scanning Station for radiographic scanning by the VACIS. Upon analysis of the image taken of the container, ICA officers discovered that there was more than one type of goods in the container. Our officers got suspicious and checked the container physically. Seventy bags of Indian rice cereals, which were not declared, were found among the wood logs in the container. The officers also suspected that the wood logs found in the container were 'Red Sanders'logs.
3 The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) was alerted and subsequently confirmed our officers' suspicions. The container with the 'Red Sanders' logs and sacks of Indian rice cereals were handed over to AVA for further investigation.
4 Anyone who is convicted of illegal import of endangered species under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act can be fined of up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offences) and/or jail of up to one year.
5 Stepped-up security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints will continue to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. ICA would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
18 Mar 2004
2 On 17 Mar 2004 at about 1400 hours, a 40-foot container declared to contain ordinary wood logs was diverted to the ICA Tanjong Pagar Scanning Station for radiographic scanning by the VACIS. Upon analysis of the image taken of the container, ICA officers discovered that there was more than one type of goods in the container. Our officers got suspicious and checked the container physically. Seventy bags of Indian rice cereals, which were not declared, were found among the wood logs in the container. The officers also suspected that the wood logs found in the container were 'Red Sanders'logs.
3 The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) was alerted and subsequently confirmed our officers' suspicions. The container with the 'Red Sanders' logs and sacks of Indian rice cereals were handed over to AVA for further investigation.
4 Anyone who is convicted of illegal import of endangered species under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act can be fined of up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offences) and/or jail of up to one year.
5 Stepped-up security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints will continue to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. ICA would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
18 Mar 2004