An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer conducting checks on a traveller bringing in cash to Singapore during a week-long multi-agency operation. - Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
SINGAPORE: Eighty-eight people were caught for various offences, including failing to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes, after a week-long multi-agency enforcement operation was carried out across land, sea and air checkpoints.
In a joint statement on Saturday (Oct 18), the police, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Customs and Health Sciences Authority said more than 14,000 travellers and 280 vehicles had gone through checks during the operation, which took place between Oct 9 and 15.
More than 11,700 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched, the authorities added, as part of efforts to “detect and enforce against non-compliance with Singapore’s cross-border cash reporting regime and other illegal cross-border smuggling activities”.
The operation caught 11 people trying to bring in cash worth more than S$20,000, or its equivalent in foreign currencies, into Singapore without making a declaration, or with an inaccurate one.
All were foreign nationals, with the largest amount being detected on Oct 13, when four people were caught separately trying to bring in a total of more than $1.2 million in various currencies.
Of the 11 people caught, four were given warnings, while six were issued composition fines amounting to $24,000. Investigations into the last individual are ongoing.
Fourteen others were separately caught possessing e-vaporisers, with a total of 395 devices and their related components seized. - Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
It is a crime not to report cash or currency of more than $20,000 when crossing Singapore’s borders. If found guilty, offenders can be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. The cash can also be confiscated.
Others who were caught in the operation include 62 people who failed to declare and pay taxes, whether on cigarettes or tobacco products, or goods that exceeded their goods and services tax import relief allowances.
The total amount of duty and GST evaded was $7,351, and the people were fined a collective amount of $20,615, said the statement.
Those in this group included a traveller found with 31 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, as well as an air crew member who was carrying undeclared CDs, clothing and accessories.
Anyone found guilty of the fraudulent evasion of Customs or excise duties can face a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded or a jail term of up to two years.
Of the 11 people caught, four were given warnings, while six were issued composition fines amounting to $24,000. Investigations into the last individual are ongoing. - Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
Fourteen others were separately caught possessing e-vaporisers, with a total of 395 devices and their related components seized.
A 25-year-old woman entering Singapore was also found with 11 sachets of chewing tobacco. All 15 were issued fines.
Since Sept 1, Singapore has adopted stricter rules against vaping, with higher penalties imposed and mandatory rehabilitation for recalcitrant users.
Anyone caught using e-vaporisers for a third time and more will be prosecuted, and could be fined up to $2,000.
Those convicted of importing, distributing, selling, or offering smokeless tobacco for sale meanwhile can be fined up to $10,000, jailed up to six months, or both if it is their first offence.
Subsequent offences will result in the fine amount being increased up to $20,000, and the jail term being up to 12 months. - The Straits Times/ANN
