The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release that they conducted a joint operation with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Pasir Panjang Terminal.
They had received a tip off from a member of the public and uncovered fireworks hidden inside a container shipment that was declared by a consigner in China to be carrying “general cargo”, transiting through Singapore to Yemen.
Fireworks were found packed inside 979 carton boxes, and the boxes were then hidden among 130 other carton boxes that contained plastic cups.
The illegal fireworks were then detained by the authorities and it is being investigated under the Arms and Explosives Act 1913.
JOINT OPERATIONS BY POLICE AND ICA TO UNCOVER ILLEGAL SHIPMENT CONTAINING FIREWORKS
On 6 May 2023, officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) acted on information received from a member of the public and conducted a joint operation that uncovered fireworks concealed in a container shipment at Pasir Panjang Terminal.
The shipment which was declared by an overseas consignor in China purportedly to be carrying general cargo was transiting through Singapore to Yemen.
However, SPF and ICA’s checks showed that the shipment consisted of fireworks packed in 979 carton boxes, which were concealed among another 130 carton boxes containing plastic cups.
Police have detained the illegal shipment of fireworks and are investigating the case for an offence of Importing Explosives without Licence under Section 13(1)(b) of the Arms and Explosives Act 1913.
The offence of importing explosives without licence carries a fine not exceeding $10,000, and imprisonment of up to three years.
The discovery of the shipment of illegal fireworks was made possible by the vigilance of the public and the strong inter-agency cooperation between the Police and ICA.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
18 May 2023 @ 4:00 PM