In an ongoing effort to combat illegal cigarette activities, Singapore Customs executed a successful operation at a carpark in Yishun Avenue 5 on December 20, 2023.
Operation Details
During the operation, customs officers observed a man opening the door of a van suspected to be carrying duty-unpaid cigarettes. Swift checks were conducted, revealing a substantial haul of 2,900 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed within brown boxes in the van’s cargo compartment.
Arrest and Investigation
Subsequent investigations disclosed that the 31-year-old male Singaporean was allegedly hired by an unidentified individual to collect and transport boxes containing duty-unpaid cigarettes. The suspect was promptly arrested, and the illicit cigarettes were seized during the operation.
Financial Implications
The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded in this operation amounted to approximately $342,134. Legal proceedings are currently underway to address the charges against the arrested individual.
Singapore Customs’ Statement
In our ongoing efforts to curb illegal cigarette activities, Singapore Customs conducted an operation at a carpark in Yishun Avenue 5 on 20 December 2023.
2 During the operation, our officers saw a man opening the door of a van suspected to contain duty-unpaid cigarettes. They conducted checks and uncovered a total of 2,900 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, which were packed inside brown boxes kept within the van’s cargo compartment.
3 Investigations revealed that the man was allegedly engaged by an unknown person to collect and deliver boxes containing duty-unpaid cigarettes. The 31-year-old male Singaporean was arrested, and the duty-unpaid cigarettes seized during the operations.
4 The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $342,134. 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.
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
