Singapore Customs arrests three men and seizes more than 600 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes
Singapore Customs arrested three men, comprising one Malaysian, one Singapore Permanent Resident and one Singaporean, and seized 618 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes during an operation conducted on 7 December 2022.
Case information
During the operation conducted in the vicinity of Sungei Kadut Drive, Singapore Customs officers observed a man transferring slabs in black wrappings from a Malaysia-registered truck to a Singapore-registered van parked alongside the road. Officers moved in and arrested the man, as well as another man who had jumped off
from the truck’s cargo compartment. Another man, who was allegedly the driver of the truck, was subsequently arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint on 8 December 2022. A total of 434 cartons and 184 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were uncovered in a modified compartment in the floorboard of the truck and the van respectively.
The duty-unpaid cigarettes and the two vehicles were seized. The total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $52,770 and $4,200 respectively. Investigations are ongoing.
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. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited.
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
9 December 2022
