In a continued effort to combat illegal cigarette activities, Singapore Customs executed an operation at a carpark located in Geylang East Avenue 1 on 28 December 2023.
32-year-old Chinese national arrested
During the operation, officers from Singapore Customs meticulously conducted checks, leading to the discovery of 1,356 cartons and 3,190 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed within the cargo compartment of a truck. The truck driver, identified as a 32-year-old Chinese national, was promptly apprehended, and both the duty-unpaid cigarettes and the vehicle were seized as part of the operation.
Investigations into the incident revealed that the arrested individual had purportedly been engaged by an unidentified person through a social messaging platform. His alleged role was to collect and transport duty-unpaid cigarettes. Intriguingly, the suspect, who was employed as a delivery driver by a food company, utilized his employer’s truck for the illicit operation.
The total value of the duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded in this operation amounted to a substantial $179,292. Legal proceedings are currently underway as the case progresses through the judicial system.
Singapore Customs’ Statement
CHINESE NATIONAL ARRESTED FOR EVADING OVER $170,000 IN DUTIES AND TAXES
Singapore, 4 January 2024 – In our ongoing efforts to curb illegal cigarette activities, Singapore Customs conducted an operation at a carpark in Geylang East Avenue 1 on 28 December 2023.
2 During the operation, our officers conducted checks and uncovered a total of 1,356 cartons and 3,190 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes in a truck’s cargo compartment. The truck driver, a 32-year-old male Chinese national, was arrested, and the duty-unpaid cigarettes and truck were seized during the operation.
3 Investigations revealed that the man was allegedly engaged by an unknown person via a social messaging platform to collect and deliver duty-unpaid cigarettes. He was employed as a delivery driver by a food company and had used his company’s truck to deliver the duty-unpaid cigarettes.
4 The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to $179,292. Court proceedings are ongoing.
5 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 committing such offences are also liable to be forfeited.
6 Members of the public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can provide information to Customs at https://go.gov.sg/reportcustomsoffence.
Annex A: Photos of the operations
