Two arrested after Singapore Customs seizes 4,540 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes

SINGAPORE — Two men were arrested after an operation by the Singapore Customs which saw more than 4,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes being seized.

Singapore Customs said in a media release on Friday (29 April) that its operation was conducted on Wednesday at a car park at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh.

Officers had observed two men transferring boxes from a truck to a car. Suspecting that the two men were involved in duty-unpaid cigarette activities, the officers moved in to conduct checks on the them.

One of the men attempted to flee the scene, but was eventually stopped by officers. Both men were arrested; they are Singaporeans aged 25 and 27.

The customs officers uncovered 4,540 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the two vehicles. A packet of unknown white powder substance, suspected to contain controlled drugs, was also found in the truck. The matter was referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigation.

The duty-unpaid cigarettes and the two vehicles were seized, and the total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $515,810 and $39,410 respectively.

Singapore Customs said that 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.

Members of the public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000 or email customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg to report these illegal activities.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore