Singapore Customs arrests two men and seizes more than 4,600 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes
Singapore Customs arrested two male Chinese nationals aged 44 and 47, and seized 4,696 cartons and 16 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 8 December 2022.
Case information
During the operation conducted in the vicinity of Mandai Link, Singapore Customs officers observed the driver of a truck handing over black trash bags to another man in the rear compartment of the truck. Officers moved in to conduct checks and uncovered 1,657 cartons and eight packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed inside
two pallets of wall partition boards in the truck. Both men were arrested.
Officers conducted follow-up checks at an industrial unit in Loyang Way and uncovered another four pallets of wall partition boards for which 3,039 cartons and eight packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were concealed in a similar manner. The driver had allegedly collected the two pallets of wall partition boards seized at Mandai Link
from the industrial unit at Loyang Way earlier in the day.
The duty-unpaid cigarettes and the truck were seized in the operation. The total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $397,160 and $31,610 respectively. Court proceedings are ongoing against one of the men and investigations are ongoing for the driver.
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
13 December 2022
