A 50-year-old cleaner from China was arrested by Singapore Customs for storing contraband cigarettes and selling them in Singapore.
The man, Cheng Yong Guang, was charged on Monday with 4 charges for the 125 cartons and 70 packs of illegal cigarettes that were seized by Singapore Customs officers.
He had allegedly bought the cigarettes through social media before selling some of them to his colleagues, storing his “stock” in his bedroom at Bedok Reservoir Road and his workplace at Taiseng Drive.
The contraband cigarettes seized were worth about $16,193.50, with the amount of duty and GST evaded amounting to over $14,000 and over $1,200 respectively.
Officers also found a smaller quantity of illegal cigarettes at his workplace, with the amount of duty and GST evaded being more than $1,200 and $113.50 respectively.
Singapore Customs’ statement
[Cleaner arrested for storing and selling duty-unpaid cigarettes to colleagues]
On 24 Feb 2023, Singapore Customs arrested a 50-year-old male Chinese national for storing duty-unpaid cigarettes.
Investigations revealed that the man, who works as a cleaner, had allegedly bought duty-unpaid cigarettes via a social media platform and allegedly sold some of the cigarettes to his colleagues. He stored the remaining duty-unpaid cigarettes in his bedroom and workplace.
A total of 125 cartons and 70 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized. The man was charged in court on 27 Feb 2023 and court proceedings are on-going.
Singapore Customs reminds employers to maintain vigilance at their premises to prevent illegal activities, such as buying and selling of duty-unpaid cigarettes.