In its drive to suppress illegal cigarette activities, Singapore Customs conducted two operations in Tuas Link 3 and Marine Parade Central on 6 December and 7 December 2023 respectively, an official news release stated.
In the operation conducted at Tuas Link 3, CS officers conducted checks on a truck in an industrial unit. They uncovered a total of 1,509 cartons and 3,628 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
The truck driver, a 31-year-old male Chinese national, was arrested.
In the second operation at Marine Parade Central, officers uncovered 2,240 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, packed in brown carton boxes in a van.
This time, a 32-year-old male Singaporean, who was the van driver, was arrested.
Along with the duty-unpaid cigarettes, both vehicles involved were also seized during the operations. Investigations revealed that unknown persons allegedly engaged both men to collect and deliver the duty-unpaid cigarettes.
The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about S$440,127. Singapore Customs has initiated court proceedings against the Chinese national, while investigations are ongoing for the Singaporean.
As per Customs, 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.
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.