Singapore Customs arrests man and seizes more than 1,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes
Singapore Customs arrested a 66-year-old male Singaporean and seized more than 1,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 9 May 2022.
Case information
During the operation held in the vicinity of No. 24 Senoko Drive, Singapore Customs officers conducted observations at a construction site where a suspicious consignment of goods was delivered earlier. Later, a man arrived at the scene to receive the consignment concerned.
Officers moved in to conduct a check and found 1,586 cartons and 18 packets of dutyunpaid cigarettes concealed inside the consignment of two electrical panels. The man was placed under arrest.
The duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized, and the total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $135,590 and $10,790 respectively.
Investigations are ongoing.
The man has an ongoing court proceeding where he was prosecuted for dealing with duty-unpaid cigarettes. The alleged offence was committed on 1 December 2020 and the duty and GST evaded amounted to about $36,850 and $2,980 respectively. He was also previously convicted on 28 July 2011 for possession of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Repeat offenders who are caught with more than two kilogrammes of tobacco products will also face mandatory imprisonment.
Members of public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000 or email [email protected] to report these illegal activities.
Singapore Customs
11 May 2022