Singapore Customs arrested a 32-year-old male China national and seized 59 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 15 March 2022.
Details:
During an operation conducted on 15 March 2022 at the vicinity of Chai Chee Avenue, Singapore Customs officers spotted a red Singapore registered car. Officers moved in to conduct a check and found 59 cartons of
duty-unpaid cigarettes in the truck. A China national man, who was the driver of the vehicle,
was arrested.
Investigations revealed that the duty-unpaid cigarettes in the trunk of the vehicle and large amounts of cash was found on the individual.
The duty-unpaid cigarettes and vehicle were seized. Cash amounting to $6,258, which was suspected to be criminal proceeds from the sale of duty-unpaid cigarettes, was seized during the operation.
Court proceedings against the man are ongoing.
Penalties:
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
Image source: Singapore Customs