In an operation conducted at Gul Circle, Singapore Customs officers checked on two men near a vacant industrial building where one of them was seen climbing over the metal gate of the building.
Both men attempted to flee the scene but were stopped by the officers. Officers searched a store unit in the property and uncovered 1,097 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
The two men arrested and duty-unpaid cigarettes seized.
Both men were arrested. Officers also uncovered another three cartons and 19 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the vicinity of Gul Circle and in one of the men’s belongings respectively.
Investigations revealed that both men had allegedly retrieved the duty-unpaid cigarettes from black plastic crates inside the building, and packed them into black trash bags for delivery by other unknown persons.
Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the first store unit of the vacant industry building.
Officers conducted a further search of the vacant industrial building and uncovered another 1,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in another store unit.
All the duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in the operation. The total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $213,500 and $16,990 respectively.
Court proceedings are ongoing against both men.
Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the second store unit of the vacant industry building.
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.
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.
Source: Singapore Customs